Awards & Recognition
Give the Gift of Recognition.
Do you know any unsung industry heroes — people whose contributions deserve to be in the spotlight? (Or, maybe you deserve a few accolades yourself?) SAF recognizes the industry's best and brightest with a wide range of honors acknowledging their hard work and dedication to the floral industry. Their contributions are celebrated during the Industry Awards Dinner at the SAF Annual Convention.
- Give the gift of recognition. Nominate someone for an SAF honor.
- Be recognized yourself. Apply for induction into the American Academy of Floriculture or Professional Floral Communicators - International
Read more about each honor and apply online below. Questions?
Contact Corey Connors. E-mail awards@safnow.org or call (800) 336-4743.
Submission Deadline: February 1, 2012
American Academy of Floriculture —
Established in 1965, the American Academy of Floriculture (AAF) recognizes industry members who meet the Academy's high standards of service to their industry and community. Nomination and acceptance into the Academy is open to qualified persons in all segments of the industry. Current Academy members include retailers, wholesalers, growers, educators, scientists, designers and business persons in allied services. Click here for more information about AAF or e-mail awards@safnow.org. Click here to complete an online application form.
Floriculture Hall of Fame
As the industry's highest honor, SAF's Floriculture Hall of Fame establishes a symbol of recognition that encourages high standards of service and responsibility in members of the floral industry. Click here for more information or Click here to complete an online nomination form or e-mail awards@safnow.org to request a printed nomination form.
Paul Ecke, Jr. Award
Established in 1984, this award is given to a person in recognition of exemplary devotion to profession, industry and community. Previous named SAF's Golden Bouquet award, this award was renamed in 2002 in memory of Paul Ecke, Jr., AAF. Click here for more information about the award and to complete an online nomination form or e-mail awards@safnow.org to reqeust a printed nomination form.
Gold Medal Award
Honors the originator or introducer of a widely distributed plant or flower that has become established as an outstanding product of significant horticultural and commercial value. Click here for more information about the award or here to complete an online application form. E-mail awards@safnow.org to request a printed nomination form.
John H. Walker Award
Named in honor of SAF's former long-time Executive Vice President, the John H. Walker Award recognizes floral association executives for the role they play as leaders of the industry. Click here for more information about the award or here to complete an online nomination form. E-mail awards@safnow.org to request a printed nomination form.
Century Award
Any industry company that has served the floral industry for 100 years or longer qualifies for the Century Award. The award was first presented in 1982. Click here for an online Century Award application and questionnaire or for additional information e-mail awards@safnow.org
Alex Laurie Award for Research and Education
SAF's Alex Laurie Award for Research and Education is presented annually to an individual who has made broad-scope, long lasting contributions to research or education in the floriculture industry. Click here to download the nomination form or e-mail awards@safnow.org to request the printed nomination form.
Professional Floral Communicators - International
Professional Floral Communicators - International (PFCI) is the service mark of the floral industry's finest floral educators. PFCI members have proven, through their education and experience, their ability to speak authoritatively about industry topics such as principles and elements of floral design, care and handling of flowers and plants, and effective business management techniques. Dedicated to the improvement of professional communication for the floral industry, PFCI is the industry's No. 1 source of professional floral speakers. Click here for an application or contact Jenny Scala.
Tommy Bright Award
Presented in honor of Ethel "Tommy" Bright, PFCI's most prestigious designation signifies a lifetime commitment to commentating excellence in the floral industry. The Tommy Bright Award is awarded annually to a member of the Professional Floral Communicators-International. Click here for more Tommy Bright Award information or contact Jenny Scala.
2012 Competitions
The following events take place each year at the SAF Annual Convention.
Outstanding Varieties Competition
The Outstanding Varieties Competition and Exhibition is a showcase of the floral industry's most exciting flowers, foliage and plants.
As in European competition, an entry is judged on its own merits as a specimen of its cultivar or commodity group and on features of the cultivar that give it commercial appeal. Judging is against a point scale: Blue Ribbons are awarded to those entries scoring 85-100 points on a 100-point scale; Red Ribbons are awarded to entries scoring 69-84 points.
For more information, contact SAF
at (800) 336-4743 or e-mail
krissydoyle@safnow.org.
Sylvia Cup Design Competition
The Sylvia Cup Design Competition is the longest-running, annual, live, national floral design competition in the floral industry.
The grand prize winner receives the Sylvia Cup (an engraved silver champagne bucket), $2,500 provided by Smithers-Oasis, complimentary registration to the next SAF convention and recognition at SAF's Industry Awards Dinner. Two honorable mention winners receive $250 each courtesy of Smithers-Oasis.
Click here for more information or contact Jenny Scala.