mike / May 24, 2007 8:42 PM

Most Likely to Fall Asleep in Class, Senior Year in HS.

I'm a teacher now.
Go figure.

Andrew / May 24, 2007 9:28 PM

Question suggested by Eamon, by the way.

I got Best in Show in the park district's pumpkin carving one Halloween.

misterShankly / May 24, 2007 10:44 PM

1) Presidential Physical Fitness Award.
2) 1st place bean bag throw, Field Day.

Yep, I was a fine specimen of athletic ability back in fifth grade.

Mikey / May 25, 2007 12:08 AM

Throughout the end of high school, I won plenty of awards for academic achievements. Then I started smoking pot. No regrets though; I'm relatively happy...

wleeeta / May 25, 2007 12:14 AM

No, and thanks for reminding me. :(

jima / May 25, 2007 5:47 AM

Yes!

Eamon / May 25, 2007 6:56 AM

The National Merit mention in Merge was what made me think of the question, as I was a National Merit award winner back in the day. Fat lot good it did me! Awards I'm actually proud of:

- Abe Frohman award for top fundraising, Mustaches for Kids Chicago
- Most Thick Skinned award from the Windy City Rollers
- 1st place in the Lake Villa Days breakdancing competition

mary / May 25, 2007 8:23 AM

i got an award for a comedy performance i gave in the 6th grade at a speech and acting fair. i now hate public speaking. that year was the only year i ever got straight a's for 4 quarters in a row, i got an award for that too.

i wish i did something that would warrant an award these days, but the truth is i am far too lazy.

Caffeine Free / May 25, 2007 8:39 AM

I won first place in a school district poetry contest.

The poem was about my obsession with a boy in my class.

Maybe it would have been less embarrassing had most of my friends not known about this infatuation, including the boy himself.

k / May 25, 2007 9:10 AM

"girl you'd most like to be stranded on a deserted island with" from my newspaper colleagues in college.

i still havent decided if that was a complement or not.

jennifer / May 25, 2007 9:14 AM

I won "Temp of the Month" several times at my old agency.

JohnnyQ / May 25, 2007 9:19 AM

Spelling bee, 5th grade: 2nd place. The trophy is on the mantleplace.

mike / May 25, 2007 9:23 AM

I was a finalist in the Gwendolyn Brooks poetry contest when I was in 4th grade. I got a check for $50.

fluffy / May 25, 2007 9:27 AM

best cat owner in the world award. Mr. M mc'd the event and they waited to give me my award until the end of the show - they had a photo montage of me and Mr. M - attending the cat show, dressed up as each other for Halloween, partying it up at the ASPCA party, quiet moments of us reading in the library, the time we led the parade...Ah, good times. I was honored.

That's the only award that's ever mattered. I don't care if others acknowledge or recognize me for anything. Anything I do is because I really want to. blah.

leah / May 25, 2007 9:46 AM

*Best lips & smile as voted on by the class of 1995.

I wish this were not true.

*MVP of my 8th grade basketball team.

I've peaked.

Carrie / May 25, 2007 10:00 AM

2nd Grade- The Kindness Award

7th Grade- Some fitness award for the most leg lifts ever in gym

mary / May 25, 2007 10:18 AM

oh yeah, i forgot i won "best speech" in my 5th grade class for the DARE program. written the morning it was due (ive been a procrastinator my whole life) a week after i saw my DARE officer smoking a cigarette outside our classroom. the system totally failed!

Kristin / May 25, 2007 10:19 AM

I won a gold statue at my last job for going above and beyond. Strangely enough, I was laid off a couple months later on the day of the Star Wars Episode III premiere. What better way to celebrate?

At my current job, we are rewarded with a check if elected outstanding employee of the quarter. That's what I'm talking about. Still shooting for that one…

missmolly / May 25, 2007 10:20 AM

student of the month a few times at holy name catholic grade school and PERFECT ATTENDANCE every year until my senior year in HS when i missed 2 days to have my wisdom teeth out.

jen / May 25, 2007 10:30 AM

I got a stuffed ant in 3rd grade for knowing all the state capitals (and I've retained that knowledge quite well over the years, I might add, strangely enough...)

And the French award in 7th grade maybe? For having the best grades/accent in French, of course.

In closing, "perfect attendance" awards are bullshit. Those kids are freaks.

Spook / May 25, 2007 10:37 AM

High School, my senior year! My crew cold snatched 2nd place at the city finals of the "All City Break Dance Pop Lock Show Down"!

Yea, the Fresh Juiced Mango Men were o.k. and all, but the only reason they came in 1st was because they were Pilipino ( the diversity thing) and of course the “good schools” like Lincoln Park always got extra points, even when they didn’t deserve them!

Southside Spinning Crew forever, say what!

Whooot!

I can't hear you!

Southside Spinning Crew forever, say what!

whoot!

I still can't hear you!

SOUTHSIDE SPINNING CREW FOREVER, SAY WHOOOOT!

sky / May 25, 2007 10:45 AM

I was voted class clown senior year.

I won this choir directing competition....

Does Prom Queen count as an award?

Of all I've done my mom still brings up the Prom thing more than anything else. Go figure. You can touch my tiara for $5.

leah / May 25, 2007 10:53 AM

oh that reminds me--homecoming queen reporting for duty here.

I find that it's always just a little too funny to others when they find this out about me.

owell!

Clarke / May 25, 2007 11:20 AM

National Championship, college football. Seriously.

annie / May 25, 2007 11:25 AM

I've won some glass statue deals from work, The Teamwork Award and the Effort Award. But, I'm most proud of the Best Storyteller Award I got senior year in H.S.; pretty cool considering I went to an all girls h.s. on the Southside where everyone tells pretty good stories.

Baldeesh / May 25, 2007 11:49 AM

In the summer between 7th and 8th grade, my volleyball team got third place in our division. And I got the "Most Improved Player" award.

Still can't spike to save my life, though.

Jill / May 25, 2007 11:52 AM

I've also gotten the "Temp of the Month" and glass award from work (nominated 7 or 8 times, finally "won").

Because it's Spelling Bee season, I'm fairly proud of the fact that I made it to regionals in 6th grade.

Also am quite pleased with winning Program of the Month (college-wide dorm competition) for presenting "Condom Bingo," calling out squares like "B-aware" and "I-U.D."

And as a college freshman, my radio show partner and I won a $50 check from David Letterman for having the show with the most request call-ins.

kate / May 25, 2007 11:58 AM

3rd place in the 5th grade D.A.R.E. contest - I won a snazzy plastic watch.

Cleanest desk in 4th grade - got some awesome hand-crafted finger puppets. Mrs. Price kicked ass.

I won best costume at a "Ninjas vs. Pirates" party a couple years ago by showing up in full TMNT gear. The prize wasn't much but the admiration of my peers made up for the lack of a trophy.

Um, do drunken arm wrestling challenges count? I win those all the time.

kate / May 25, 2007 12:04 PM

That's D.A.R.E. poster contest.

Also, I was voted "most individualistic" my senior year of high school. I still don't have a grasp on what that means.

lp / May 25, 2007 12:14 PM

first place hopping, 1985.
piano recital excellence awards, 1987-89.
softball state champs, 1988-89.
bowling league winning team, 2007.

i just realized how multi-faceted i am. i am great!

Luke / May 25, 2007 12:28 PM

I know it's a new thread and all, but I tried to post yesterday about what turns me on about my girlfriend, and I told her to look for it and it never appeared, so here goes...

she's a knockout, pretty and curvy and so so sexy

her beautiful blue eyes and long lashes

the way she smiles at me sometimes, just a little crooked, enough to tell me that there's something on her mind, is so sexy

when we are driving, she plays with my hair and I can feel it in my toes

if it were up to her, she would never wear clothes at home. But we live on a first floor apartment on a busy street, so I object. But I do love seeing her naked.

I could go on and on.

Luke / May 25, 2007 12:28 PM

I know it's a new thread and all, but I tried to post yesterday about what turns me on about my girlfriend, and I told her to look for it and it never appeared, so here goes...

she's a knockout, pretty and curvy and so so sexy

her beautiful blue eyes and long lashes

the way she smiles at me sometimes, just a little crooked, enough to tell me that there's something on her mind, is so sexy

when we are driving, she plays with my hair and I can feel it in my toes

if it were up to her, she would never wear clothes at home. But we live on a first floor apartment on a busy street, so I object. But I do love seeing her naked.

I could go on and on.

CC / May 25, 2007 12:44 PM

I had a neighbor friend with overachieving parents who threw an Easter egg hunt for the whole neighborhood every year. One year, in about 4th grade, I won a giant stuffed rabbit...for best performance of the Chicken Dance.

roderick / May 25, 2007 12:54 PM

Best Defensive Player, Soccer, 1996.

Christian Service Award, Class of 1998.

Third Place, Illinois College Press Association, Photo Essay (Nondailies more than 4,000), 2004

Soccer, service, and photography. All things that I pretty much suck at now. Bleh.

Steve / May 25, 2007 1:09 PM

None since high school that are worth mentioning.

But about five years ago, Chipotle picked my business card from the fish bowl, meaning I won free burritos for me and four co-workers. So that's something.

deshi / May 25, 2007 1:13 PM

yeah... i've got about 15 trophies from playing in a billiards league for the past 9 years:

12+ for making it to all-stars
1 championship
2 runners up
1 mvp
1 hall of fame

funny thing is i'm reluctant to display any of them because they all have a statue of a woman with a skirt and high heels playing pool, and i'm a butch dyke who looks nothing like the statue whatseover. my girl and i plan on dressing each on of them up in butch gear, maybe some bdsm leather gear... etc. hehe... only then will they be suitable for my mantle. hehe..

eep / May 25, 2007 2:08 PM

I won the Young Authors competition a few times for my class as a kid, and then for my grade, and then school. I never passed district that I remember, though.

At work last year I won the "Above and Beyond the Call" award for doing a stint at our warehouse. I think it was because everyone else who went out there for a day was compensated with time off, but I was there for a full week and got nothing. So I think someone took pity on me. Heh. But the award funded my vacation, so it's all good.

jj / May 25, 2007 2:14 PM

I was an award winning machine, but the most ironic (given my political beliefs) was winning first place in a junior high essay contest sponsored by the VFW Hall. The topic was something like "Why I'm Proud To Be An American". I wish I could feel proud to be an American again.

Spook / May 25, 2007 2:36 PM

Speaking of the Christian Service Award, where is that other Christian Service Award winner Allan?
I’m sure he’s got a window ledge full of awards and trophies.

Leelah / May 25, 2007 2:39 PM

The Earthwatch Educator Award (I went on an archaeological dig in Mallorca, Spain in 2003) and Fund For Teachers 2007 (I will go on an Earthwatch archaeological dig in South Shields England next month). There's a theme...

Justin / May 25, 2007 3:11 PM

First prize, first annual Dick Tracy Days Chalk Art Contest
Woodstock, IL, 1991(?), $25

Sol / May 25, 2007 3:57 PM

Another Presidential Fitness Award winner here. I won some sort of Fellowship for a Ph.D. program I decided not to do, but other than that and a faux Fulbright I kind of suck. I made it to our school spelling bee (won the class/grade competitions) and then lost to a 3rd grader. I was in 8th grade.

wordup / May 25, 2007 4:11 PM

First Place Riflery - Junior Small Bore.

I have a medal.

Back in the day when high schools allowed kids to shoot guns - in dark, dirt-floored basements. And I wore skirts.

(Hey it was a way to get out of changing for gym).

peanut / May 26, 2007 10:52 AM

stuffed mouse from easter egg hunt, 1980, later passed down to my sister.

i "threw" a regional spelling bee circa 1984 due to stagefright.

"best actress," '92 AND '93 at my 350-kid high school (not exactly stiff competition).

consistently voted Coolest Person Ever by everyone i meet.

Brandy / May 26, 2007 6:12 PM

Oh, yes.

But I'm far to humble the list them ALL.

(art, design, writing, academics, singing, drama. Never sports or looks.)

Brandy / May 26, 2007 6:15 PM

p.s. Even though I really tried, I totally didn't win at Math team or Speech Club.

Brian / May 26, 2007 8:15 PM

I won 1st place in a high school art fair my junior year. Gahh, that was 1991. Nevermind.

Flips / May 26, 2007 8:54 PM

Yes, I was one of those perfect attendance geeks. Far too many years in a row. At least I got tix to White Sox games for it.

1st place in the Fire Prevention week poster contest, 1st grade. ROCK! I got to ride on the firetruck in the parade!

My cheerleading team won the local tournament in 8th grade. The end of coordination arrived shortly thereafter.

3rd runner up in the hometown "Miss Town Name" contest. This now makes me cringe.

Brandy / May 26, 2007 9:14 PM

Flips 1st grade story reminded me - At that age, if we had perfect spelling tests for a quarter, our reward was to get to go to McDonalds (during the school day! How exciting!) and have happy meals. I remember at the time, I got to go and my happy meal was in a plastic, flying saucer. With stickers.

I felt I had truly arrived.

TKO / May 26, 2007 9:20 PM

6th Grade - Second place in the junior high spelling bee. I lost to an 8th grader.

Senior Year of High School - Daughters of the American Revolution Good Citizen Award (Regional, no less) and the American Legion Good Citizen Award. Not bad for a metal kid.

Onid / May 27, 2007 3:54 PM

I won a hot dog, fries, and a drink from a local fast food place when I was in a 7th grade spelling bee. I owe it all to Reed Richards of the Fantastic Four using the word extraordinary when he was in his lab during the Kree-Skrull war. Or something.