About The America250 Award
This past November, The America250 Foundation selected Bennett Awards as the designer and producer of the inaugural America250 award. We are honored to share some details about the award and its design inspiration below.
America250 is a multiyear effort to commemorate the semiquincentennial, or 250th anniversary, of the United States. The purpose of the U.S. Semiquincentennial Commission, created by Congress, and the corresponding America250 Foundation, is to catalyze a more perfect union by designing and leading the most comprehensive and inclusive celebration in our country’s history.
The American250 multiyear awards program was created to recognize Americans who exemplify the intangible qualities of the American spirit, and spotlight those who exhibit heroism, unity, justice, tranquility, valor, and equality, and advance and uphold the freedoms first forged in the founding promise of America.
The NFL officially announced the inaugural class of the 2021 America250 Awards during a special halftime ceremony of the Bears vs. Lions game on Thanksgiving Day.
The awardees, pictured below, were recognized in three categories:
Community Champion: Shreyaa Venkat of Ashburn, Virginia
9/11 Hero: Army Sgt. 1st Class Christopher D. Braman of Orange County, California
First Responder: Lilburn Police Sgt. Almedin Ajanovic of Dacula, Georgia
Photo credit: America250
About The Award Design
The America250 Foundation asked for a design that conveyed the weight and significance of the America250 Foundation, the 250th anniversary of the United States, and the America250 Award themselves.
As a custom award design company, we pride ourselves on understanding our clients’ objectives, and working with them collaboratively to deliver something unique and profoundly meaningful to their organization and mission.
Our designers created a closed loop and infinite abstract piece that plays on the symbols of bending perspective while still being connected and whole. When viewed from the top orthographic view, the piece forms a star.
Handcrafted from cast bronze with a patina finish, the final award stands at 14 inches tall and weighs 6.625 pounds.
America250.org describes the custom award design in detail on their website,
The unique design forms an infinite loop of bending perspectives while remaining wholly connected. Echoing the lasting durability of the American project, the unbroken loop represents continuity, dynamism, and renewal. The design also forms a star when viewed from above – a longtime symbol of the nation and its heroes. The heroism of this year’s Honorees, just like the symbol of the star, serves as a light guiding our path forward.
As a small business, we were extremely honored to work with America250 on these awards, and to play a role in expressing our gratitude to these three extraordinary heroes.
As quoted by Daniel M. DiLella, chairman, U.S. Semiquincentennial Commission on America250.org
“Commemorating the 250th anniversary of America’s independence gives us the opportunity to share the stories of our everyday America heroes, deepen our connection to one another, and work towards a bright future together.”
Learn more about creating a custom award with us, including how the custom award process works.