Paper Plate Awards

Does anyone know who came up with the idea for paper plate awards? Apparently the concept involves a paper plate, a Sharpie (magic marker), and... well, that's it. You come up with a funny award idea and write it on the paper plate. Is that it?

I guess you could break out some glitter or stickers if you're feeling fancy.

I'd love to know the origin of paper plate awards. Did they start at camp or scouts? Aren't they pretty much just a variation of funny superlatives and most likely to awards? If you have any insight, please post it in the comments section.

Paper Plate Awards

Lots of people are begging for funny paper plate award ideas - please help! And since this site is FunAwards.com, it only makes sense that I should chime in. Here are a few funny paper plate award examples to get you started...

• Peacocking Award for biggest show off (from Funny Award Certificates)
• Foot-in-Mouth Award for always saying the wrong thing at the wrong time (from Funny Employee Awards)
• Little Miss Sunshine Award for the brightest smile (from Funny Teacher Awards)

There are tons of free printable certificates, examples, and categories on this website. But if you'd rather forgo a beautifully printed certificate in favor or scribbling on a Chinet plate, then so be it. Who am I to stop the fun?

Regarding good paper plate awards for sports, keep in mind the awards don't have to be directly related to swimming, hockey, basketball, cheerleading, golf, volleyball, softball or to any sport at all. Don't get hung up on puns. Instead, think about the characteristic of the award recipient. Here are a few more ideas from FunAwards.com that work:

• Selective Hearing Impairment Award for the player who never listens to the coach
• Loch Ness Award for the team member who is always missing practice
• Running with the Bulls Award for the person who takes the most chances.

These aren't necessarily sports-related, but they can work with a little creativity. And hey, they're FREE!

Please share your paper plate award ideas in the comments section.

Teacher Appreciation Day 2012

Teacher Appreciation Day 2012 occurs on Tuesday of the first full week of May in the United States. Also known as National Teacher Day, Teacher Appreciation Day 2012 is on Tuesday, May 8, 2012. The entire week is known as Teacher Appreciation Week (May 7-11, 2012). Outside the U.S., many other country celebrate Teacher Appreciation every October 5, World Teacher's Day.

Click Here to Download Free Award (PDF)

FREE Teacher Award Certificate - In celebration of Teacher Appreciation Day 2012, we are giving away a FREE Best Teacher Award Certificate. You can type directly onto the certificate template before printing. Within seconds you'll have a unique award that will bring smiles to your favorite teacher! Just click the link below to download the PDF and enjoy!

According to the National Education Association (NEA) website, Congress declared March 7, 1980, as National Teacher Day - but for that one year only. NEA continued to unofficially celebrate the day every March, until the NEA Representative Assembly voted to change the event to Tuesday of the first full week of May beginning in 1985. To help you celebrate, the site offers artwork, Sample proclamation, sample news release and activity ideas

Typical Teacher Appreciation Day gift ideas include cards, pins, letters, gift certificates, lunch, and gift baskets. Here are some unique ideas for Teacher Appreciation Day 2012:

Teacher Appreciation Awards Show - Give your entire staff some much-needed laughter with a performance by comedian Larry Weaver. Full of customized jokes, everyone will love participating in this highly-interactive and hilarious presentation!

Funny Teacher Appreciation Certificates - Our exclusive line of funny teacher awards range from teacher superlatives to classroom awards. They reference common classroom objects, literary figures, noted scientists, fairy tales, popular culture icons, and much more. While some fall under the category of "poking light fun", the vast majority are creative ways to say "job well done". They are G-rated and appropriate for all types of schools around the World. 

Administrative Assistant Day 2012

Administrative Assistant Day is actually a misnomer for Administrative Professionals' Day, although no one really calls it that. Some folks still call it Secretary's Day, but they're probably really old or watch too much Mad Men. No matter what you call it, the unofficial holiday occurs on the Wednesday of the last full week of April.

Administrative Assistant Day 2012 falls on Wednesday, April 25, 2011. If one day isn't enough time for you to celebrate, the entire week is known as Administrative Professionals Week (formerly known as Secretary's Week).

According to the infallible Wikipedia, the National Secretaries Association, now known as the International Association of Administrative Professionals (IAAP) created the unofficial holiday in 1952  to recognize the work of secretaries, administrative assistants, receptionists, and other administrative support professionals. You may also know them as "Executive Admins" or "Office Managers". This job has more aliases than Sean Combs.

The International Association of Administrative Professionals has actually trademarked the term "Administrative Professionals Day", although people continue to call it whatever they want. Despite the push for the name change, the top Google searches for this holiday are (in order) secretary's day, administrative professionals day, administrative assistant day, professional administrative day.

Typical gifts for Secretary's Day include cards, pins, flowers, gift certificates, lunch, and gift baskets. The IAAP suggests that employers support the holiday by providing training opportunities for their administrative staff through continuing education, self-study materials, or seminars.

If your ExecutiveAdminProfessional-etary has a sense of humor, you can always bring a few laughs into your workplace with our exclusive line of funny awards. Celebrate Administrative Assistant Day 2012 with 101 Funny Employee Awards. It will give all of you non-admins the tools you need to throw a fun recognition ceremony for your staff.

National Volunteer Appreciation Week 2012

Volunteer Recognition Day, commonly referred to as Volunteer Appreciation Day, always occurs on April 20. Volunteer Recognition Day 2012 is coming up on Friday, April 20, 2012.

If one day isn't enough time for you to celebrate,  April 15-21 is known as National Volunteer Week or Volunteer Recognition Week and the entire month of April is Volunteer Recognition Month.

So, you better recognize!

Ideally you would recognize your volunteers year-round. I mean, they come and go so fast. Don't wait until April to say thanks.

Typical gifts for Volunteer recognition include cards, pins, letters, speeches, parties, gift certificates, lunch, and gift baskets.

This year, throw your volunteers their own Awards Show party. You can do it on the cheap, and it's a good way to recognize and have fun at the same time.

Visit FunAwards.com to download 101 Fun Awards for employees, volunteers and staff by comedian Larry Weaver. It will give you all the tools you need to throw a fun recognition ceremony for your volunteers.

p.s. Don't forget to become a volunteer yourself. Check out sites like VolunteerMatch.org for opportunities in your area.

National Nurses Day 2012

National Nurses Day 2012, sometimes referred to as Nurses Day or National RN Recognition Day, occurs on Sunday, May 6, 2012 in the U.S.


National Nurses Week begins each year on May 6 and ends on May 12 (the birth date of famous nurse Florence Nightingale).

International Nurses Day 2012 is on May 12, 2012.

National School Nurse Day is celebrated on Wednesday, May 09, 2012 during National Nurse Week.

Popular Google searches for the holiday include nurses day, nursing day, nurse appreciation week, nurses day gifts, and "when is nurses day". With all the variations, it's easy to understand the confusion.

Typical Nurses Day gift ideas include flowers, gift certificates, lunch or dinner, and gift baskets. If your nursing staff has a sense of humor, you can always bring a few laughs into your recognition ceremony with funny awards.

Put a smile on a nurse's face with our Funny Award Certificates.