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Making the Dean’s List is a big deal, and your school needs to produce a certificate worthy of the honor. While no national standard dictates what a Dean’s List certificate must look like and include, most schools follow a similar format to ensure they produce an official certificate that contains all of the essential information.

Information to Include

At the very least, your dean’s list certificate needs to include:

• Title of the award, such as Dean’s List Award, or simply Dean’s List
• Name of university or college
• Name of recipient
• Semester and year the certificate is being awarded
• Official signature(s)

Certificates may be signed by the dean, deans from different departments, or other administrative members authorized to bestow the award.

Design Elements

For the most official, traditional look, it’s imperative to pay attention to several design elements.

School Logo or Seal

The school logo refers to an emblem that can be printed on the certificate, while the seal is created by a sticker or stamp that creates an imprint. One or the other is typically used on a dean’s honor list certificate, with the logo frequently appearing near the top center of the certificate and the seal often appearing in a bottom corner. Choose a Seal that comes with an embossed design or create your own with a blank foil seal and Custom Embosser.

Font

The font style sets up the overall vibe of the certificate, with the most official and traditional often using an Old English type font. For a less fussy look, a straightforward font such as Bookman Old Style can work. Use no more than two different types of font on the certificate to retain a crisp and clean look.

Font sizes can vary, with larger lettering for the heading and important information and a smaller font size for less crucial information.

Certificate Paper

A dean’s list certificate is not the place to skimp on paper. You will want to use high-quality paper designed specifically for awards and certificates. Attractive options for a dean’s list can include:

• Border Specialty Certificates: Keep it simple and elegant with a light background enclosed by a foil accent border on 38-lb stock.
• Charisma Specialty Certificates: Add a rich layer of color with a full-color option featuring 38-lb stock and a silver foil-accented design.
• Gold Linen Border Specialty Certificates: Top-of-the-line 70-lb stock is graced with a white linen background embraced by a pair of shiny gold borders.

When finalizing your design, make sure you adjust your layout to account for any borders on your certificate paper.

These tips can help ensure your dean’s list certificate makes a stunning statement, providing a tangible testament to all the hard work and dedication that went into receiving it. To start creating your Dean’s List certificate today, browse PaperDirect’s certificate and recognition options.

College can be an incredibly fun time for students, but it’s not without its challenges. Between juggling homework, theses, and job applications, your students are likely stressed out much of the time!

While you can’t help them manage their busy schedules, you can acknowledge their hard work and unique quirks with fun and meaningful awards. Try out some of these award ideas for college students to boost morale in your university.

1. Superlatives

Superlative awards are one of the most popular parts of high school. Almost anyone can recall at least category from when they graduated, like Best Couple, Class Sweetheart, or Most Likely to Succeed. You can easily adapt this concept for college. Try some fun ideas that poke a little fun, while still showing your students you know them as individuals. Here are some ideas to get you started:

• Most Likely to Drink 5 Cups of Coffee in One Class
• Most Likely to Wear Pajamas in Class or Most Likely to Wear a Suit to Class
• Most Likely to Know the Answer to Every Question
• Most Likely to Start a Debate Over Anything
• Most Likely to Take Impeccable Notes

2. Awards for High-performing Students

Giving high-performing students a small award, either in class or in privacy, for their achievements is a gesture that can go a long way. Extra validation can make a big difference, especially during high-pressure times like midterms or finals. Hand out certificates acknowledging one of the following achievements:

• Top Math/History/Biology Student of the Year
• Top Grade in the Course
• Highest Test Score

3. Rewards for Students Who Study Together

Students often study together during college – there’s so much work to be done, and it always goes faster when you’re in a group! If you have a student you know shows up to help support others during test prep, reward them for their willingness and ability to cooperate with others. Some ideas to help recognize their collaboration are:

• Most Dedicated Study Group
• Biggest Team Player
• Best Group Project of the Semester
• The Test Prep Dream Team

4. Awards for Students with Perfect Attendance

If your class is at 8 AM, then this is one of those award ideas for college students that should be mandatory! College students have a lot going on, so simply making it to class all the time is an achievement that deserves acknowledgment. Whether it’s a certificate or a gift card for the local coffee shop to keep them punctual, it’s a worthwhile thing to celebrate. Awards relating to punctuality can include:

• Most Punctual
• Most Likely to Be the First to Class
• Perfect Attendance
• Most Visits to Office Hours

5. Certificates for Students Who Audited the Course

Students audit courses for a variety of reasons, but since they don’t receive official credit, giving students who audit a class an award is worthwhile. While all students are pursuing their educations and broadening their horizons by attending college, there’s something extra special about students taking on a course just for the sake of learning. Reward students who often go unacknowledged for going above and beyond with a certificate of completion.

No matter what awards you choose to celebrate your college students this season, PaperDirect has the certificates, trophies, and other awards you need to thank them for their hard work – or dedication to wearing PJs to class. Browse our range of recognition products today!

See Jane improve. Watch Sam excel. Then feel free to award each of them a certificate for doing their best in your elementary school classroom.

Certificates of appreciation or achievement can be an ideal way to recognize students for a job well done, whether it’s acing the spelling test, making momentous improvements in their math scores, or even showing compassion, kindness, and a positive attitude throughout the year.

As long as they’re not given out willy-nilly for no real reason, certificates can be useful tools that help motivate students, boost self-esteem, and provide recognition in front of their peers. When given for no apparent reason they can start to lose significance or meaning. You want certificates to help your students feel special when they’ve done something special and because they’ve truly earned it.

Check out what we mean with several examples below, complete with the wording you can use for your awards.

Certificate Wording for Elementary School: Basic Info

Before we dive into the examples, it’s essential to note the basic information that should appear on every certificate. This includes:

• Name of student receiving the honors
• Name of teacher, department, or school awarding the honors
• Reason the student is receiving the award
• Date and signature

Certificate Wording for Elementary School: Examples

Student of the Week

Congratulations to (name)

for earning Student of the Week honors

in/at (classroom/school)

for his/her (reason).

Certificate of Excellence

This Certificate of Excellence goes to

(name) for his/her outstanding efforts in (subject)

in/at (classroom/school).

Certificate of Achievement

You Did It!

(Name) is receiving this

Certificate of Achievement for

successfully completing (task/project/activity)

in/at (classroom/school).

Certificate of Improvement

Way to Go!

(Name) gets this certificate for

his/her notable improvement in (subject)

in/at (classroom/school).

Graduation Certificate

Great Job!

This certificate is for

(name), who successfully completed

(grade) at (school name).

Simple wording works best for elementary school students, and you can simplify some of the examples further by putting the teacher’s name, classroom, or school name at the bottom of the certificate instead of in the middle with the rest of the text.

Lastly, choose bright colors, upload a cheery image or two and your certificates can be ready for action the next time one of your students does something genuinely great.

While most folks wouldn’t want to brag about being on a hit list or blacklist, making the dean’s list is a stellar achievement indeed. Bragging rights are definitely included with the honor, which means universities need to provide certificates that are worthy of being shown, hung and, perhaps most importantly, posted on Facebook or Instagram.

A brag-worthy dean’s list certificate consists of two key components:

• Certificate on high-quality paper stock featuring a handsome design
• Dean’s list certificate wording that sounds honorable, official and, in some cases, even poetic

Your dean’s list certificate wording can get as long and lofty as you like, although most follow a general template that includes the basic info.

Dean’s List Certificate Templates

Information for a dean’s list certificate template typically includes:

• Name of college or university
• Name of certificate or award
• Reason certificate is being awarded
• Name of recipient
• Semester and year the certificate is being awarded
• Official school seal and dean’s signature

Template Example 1:

Name of University across the top of the certificate

This Dean’s List Certificate is hereby awarded to

(Name of recipient)

for outstanding scholastic achievement in the (fall/spring) semester of (year).

The bottom of the certificate generally includes an official stamp of the school’s seal on the lower left and dean’s signature and title on the lower right.  

Template Example 2:

Name of University across the top

Dean’s List Certificate/Dean’s List Award directly below name of university

This award certifies that

(Name of recipient)

Has achieved the honor of placement on the Dean’s List due to outstanding scholastic performance during the (fall/spring) semester (year).

School seal in lower left corner; dean’s signature and title in bottom right corner.

Dean’s List Certificate Wording

Once you have the general template down, you can play around a bit with the wording to create an overall message that best reflects the personality of your school. Items to consider include:

Name of Document

• Dean’s List Certificate
• Dean’s List Award
• Dean’s List Honor
• Dean’s List Recognition

Reason for Receiving Document

This (Name of document) is being awarded to (Name of recipient) due to:

• Superior scholarly performance worthy of note and inclusion on the Dean’s List
• Academic excellence as evidenced by achieving a GPA of 3.5 or above
• Outstanding scholastic performance
• Outstanding scholarly achievement
• Scholastic excellence
• Scholarly dedication and greatness
• Superior scholarly achievement
• Notable scholastic performance
• Remarkable academic performance

Dean’s list certificate wording is typically pretty straightforward, although you can certainly add fanfare with the certificate’s coloring, border and other details. The overall vibe is to instill pride and recognition for a job well done – and a certificate well deserved.