Examples

Award Acceptance Speech

speech award acceptance sample

Navigate the art of delivering a heartfelt award acceptance speech with our expert guide, which includes a variety of inspiring speech examples . This comprehensive resource is designed to assist you in articulating your gratitude and joy effectively. Whether you’re acknowledging a professional honor or a personal milestone, our array of speech examples will guide you in creating a memorable and sincere acceptance speech, ensuring your words leave a lasting impression on your audience.

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If you have been nominated for an award and you are confident that your chances of winning is high or even if you are not that confident you’ll win, it is only right to prepare a speech when receiving said award. As English poet Samuel Taylor Coleridge has said, “He who is best prepared can best serve his moment of inspiration.” Therefore, you should prepare a speech ahead of time regardless of uncertainty in order to avoid stuttering when accepting an award or plainly embarrassing yourself in such a momentous occasion for saying the wrong words.

Outline of an Award Acceptance Speech

When you when an award especially during prestigious events, it is most likely that you are expected to give an award acceptance speech . As the name suggests, it is a speech you give when you accept an award and mainly for expressing how honored and thankful you are to be given such recognition. In the process of writing the speech , you should also know what information you should include. Although there is no set standard on how to write the speech, here is an explanation on the outline of an award acceptance speech:

This part of your speech is basically your introduction. This will be your formal opening, the ice breaker or the attention-grabber for your speech. The main purpose of this part is to show your excitement, your shock and happiness to be given the award. This will also serve as your formal acknowledgement to the people present during the event. In some award acceptance speeches given by professionals in certain filed, this is where they insert a humorous quip. For speech example , during the Oscars in 2010, Sandra Bullock who won the Best Actress Award opened her speech with “Did I really earn this or did I just wear you all down?”

2. Expression of gratitude

This part of the speech is where you express your gratitude for the organization or institution who has given you the award. Although this can also be used to thank important people in your life, thanking the organization also expresses your respect to the body who has given you the award. Aside from that, this is also your way to talk about how thankful you are just for the nomination and how much happy and honored you are that the deciding body chose you despite of all the talented nominees.

3. Address your competition

It is only right that you acknowledge the people who were nominated alongside you. This is the part of your speech where you speak well of your competition. Although they were your competitors for the award, some of them are your close acquaintances or friends and people you have admired for a long time. This is also your time to acknowledge how brilliant they performed in their own right and how worthy they are of the nomination. In addition, you can also mention how these nominees also served as your inspiration during the process of creating your work. Through this you strengthen your friendship with some of them and creating new meaningful relationships with the others.

4. Sharing the glory

On this part of the speech you share your glory to the people who have continuously supported you. Aside from the people executives like talent scouts, directors, producers, managers, supervisors, etc. who have taken a chance on you, this is also where you thank the most important people in your life like your spouse, parents, siblings, friends, mentors and so on. When the late Robin Williams received the Best Supporting Actor during the 1998 Oscars, he humorously thanked his late father saying “Most of all, I want to thank my father, up there, the man who when I said I wanted to be an actor, he said, ‘Wonderful. Just have a back-up profession like welding.'”

5. Conclusion

The conclusion of your speech can be inspirational, funny, challenging and others. You should definitely end your speech with something you can be remembered by. For example you can pose a challenge to the audience, or your can leave with some inspirational message that the audience can ponder on, or you can end your speech with some witty, funny remarks. To end his award acceptance speech during the Mark Twain Comedy Award in 2011, actor-comedian Will Ferrell funny quipped the theater band “Now, you can play it, now you can play the music.” as they have interrupted him in the beginning of his speech.

Award Acceptance Speech

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Award Acceptance Speech for Students

Award Acceptance Speech for Students

Short Award Acceptance Speech

Short Award Acceptance Speech

Scientific and Cultural Community Awards Acceptance Speech Example

Scientific and Cultural Community Awards Acceptance Speech Example

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Economics Award Acceptance Speech Example

Economics Award Acceptance Speech Example

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Social Work Education Award Acceptance Speech Example

Social Work Education Award Acceptance Speech Example

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How to Make an Award Acceptance Speech

In order to deliver an outstanding award acceptance speech you should prepared it ahead of time. Although some prepare to deliver it extemporaneously, but in order to save time you can prepare just the basic outline of what you want to say or a list of people you want to thank so as not to forget anyone. However, when you have been given prior knowledge about the award, it is much better to allot time to actually write it. Hence, here is a guide you can refer to when you write an award acceptance speech:

award-acceptance-speech1

1. Brainstorm ideas

This part of your process will be the foundation or outline as you go along with the actual writing process. This will enable you to generate ideas on how you want your speech to go and what yu want to include in the speech. Aside from that, it will allow you to gather inspiration that you can apply in your own speech.

  • Make a list of the reasons why you are thankful for receiving the award.
  • Make a list of all the people you want to thank in your speech. Only name the most important ones, and thank the others in general.
  • Read or watch other acceptance speeches in order to draw inspiration.

2. Write your speech

Since you already have enough ideas and basically an outline of how your speech should go, you can now proceed to the actual writing process. The writing process should be easy enough since the speech is supposed to be brief and more importantly because you already have a guide. A list of the entire writing process is listed below:

  • Write a brief introduction that will set the tone of your entire speech. Make sure you try to express gratitude and connect with the audience right away. You can also start your speech with a funny quip, but try to avoid sarcasm or joking about the merits of the award itself. In addition, the length of your introduction will heavily depend on the time allotted to you to deliver the speech.
  • Proceed to the body of your speech focusing on the people you want to express your gratitude to. This speech should be devoted to expressing your gratitude to the body who gave you the award, the people you enabled you to showcase your talents and all the people who have undoubtedly supported you. You can easily refer to the list of people you want to thank that you have made beforehand.
  • Avoid thanking too many people. Although this is meant to express your gratitude, the audience will easily get bored if all you do is thank everyone one-by-one. It can also cause disappointments once you forget to mention someone.
  • Take caution in making you speech a platform. Although this can be used to address certain controversies or social issues, be wary in doing so since saying the wrong things when you only mean well can still be interpreted badly.
  • Conclude your speech on a positive note. Make sure you end your speech in a lighthearted and positive manner in order to maintain the atmosphere and also to make sure you have used up your opportunity in a good way.

Outstanding CEO Award Acceptance Speech Example

Outstanding CEO Award Acceptance Speech Example

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Distinguished Service Award Acceptance Speech Example

Distinguished Service Award Acceptance Speech Example

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Alumnus of the Year Award Acceptance Speech Example

Alumnus of the Year Award Acceptance Speech Example

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How to Deliver an Award Acceptance Speech

Aside from having a brilliant speech, you should also be to deliver you speech in a brilliant manner. You have to make sure that your delivery is perfect to that the audience can clearly understand you and so that your message can be heard audibly. Here are some tips on how you can deliver your award acceptance speech:

  • Show your personality . The delivery of your speech should come from the heart. It is okay to sound a surprised and shocked for it is only human. With that, you should show your personality through the words you say and the actions or gestures you make.
  • Be gracious . Being gracious means acknowledging the good work done by your competitors and thanking the organization that selected you for the award. You show how good-natured you are by avoiding the tendency of becoming narcissistic; talk about others more thank yourself.
  • Show excitement . Showing your excitement does not mean you have to do cartwheels towards the stage, but you have to make sure that the audience can recognize that you are really happy to have won the award. You can show this through words or through gestures. Some are show visible signs of excitement like getting jitters, heavy breathing, getting teary-eyed, and so on.
  • Be modest . It should not be self-congratulatory however heartfelt it may be. Show modesty through avoiding talking more about you than other relevant and important people in your life.
  • Practice, practice, practice . Your should prepare, rehearse with a timer, memorize key people to thank and allow time for the unexpected.

A. A. Michelson Award Acceptance Speech Example

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Children’s Peace Literature Award Acceptance Speech Example

Childrens Peace Literature Award Acceptance Speech Example

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Tips in Writing and Delivering Award Acceptance Speech

Now that you have enough ideas and guide on how to write a brilliant award acceptance speech and how to effectively deliver it, your should also know some of the other important yet forgotten details about it. Hence, here is a list of useful tips you should know when writing and delivering an award acceptance speech:

  • It is best to ask how much time you are allotted for the speech.
  • Allot time to brainstorm what you want to include in your speech and which to talk about first.
  • With the time constraint in mind, begin writing the introduction of your speech.
  • Keep your speech short but sincere.
  • Wholeheartedly acknowledge those who helped you along the way.
  • Express honest appreciation.
  • Include witty, humorous remarks to have an entertaining factor.
  • Explain how this experience has changed your life for the better.
  • End the speech with a bang.
  • Aim to make the speech memorable.
  • Avoid using notes.
  • Give a nod to the organizers.
  • Establish a personal connection.
  • Be genuine.
  • Stop apologizing for the past, for being speechless, for getting emotional, and so on.
  • Mention and acknowledge the organization’s goals.
  • Keep a lid on the jokes.One or two jokes is already enough.

Excellence in Art Education Award Acceptance Speech Example

Excellence in Art Education Award Acceptance Speech Example

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Lifetime Achievement Award Acceptance Speech Example

Lifetime Achievement Award Acceptance Speech Example

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Concluding your award acceptance speech, remember to speak from the heart, expressing genuine gratitude. Utilize our guide and examples to eloquently acknowledge those who’ve supported you, making your speech as memorable as the achievement itself. Your words have the power to inspire and resonate, leaving a lasting impact on your audience. Embrace this opportunity to shine and share your journey with grace and appreciation.

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Written Samples

10 short acceptance speech samples.

An acceptance speech is more than a mere formality following an award or honor. It’s a unique opportunity to express gratitude, share values, and inspire others, all while acknowledging the collective effort that led to the individual achievement.

The speeches compiled here represent a range of scenarios — from industry awards to community honors, and personal achievements.

Short Acceptance Speech Samples

Each is crafted to not only express thanks but to resonate with the audience, leaving a lasting impression of the occasion and the individual honored.

Speech 1: Accepting a Lifetime Achievement Award

“a journey of persistence and passion”.

As I stand before this distinguished gathering, my heart swells with gratitude. This Lifetime Achievement Award is not just a recognition of my individual efforts but a testament to the enduring spirit of perseverance and dedication. I remember starting out in this field, fueled by nothing but a dream and an unwavering resolve. Today, as I look back at the decades of challenges and triumphs, I am reminded of the countless individuals who supported me — my mentors who believed in me, my team who stood by me, and my family who sacrificed alongside me. This award is yours as much as it is mine.

Speech 2: Accepting an Industry Innovator Award

“innovation: a collective endeavor”.

Thank you for this honor. Being recognized as an Industry Innovator is a humbling experience. Innovation is not born in a vacuum; it is the outcome of relentless questioning and collaborative problem-solving. I stand here because of a culture that values bold ideas and the freedom to pursue them. This award reflects our shared commitment to pushing boundaries and creating something truly remarkable. To all aspiring innovators, let this be a reminder: your ideas have the power to shape the future.

Speech 3: Accepting a Community Service Award

“service: the fabric of our community”.

Today, I am deeply honored to accept this Community Service Award. Service, to me, is the very fabric that holds our community together. It’s about seeing a need and responding with compassion and action. This recognition is not for me alone but for all who have worked tirelessly to uplift and support our community. From organizing local drives to advocating for change, every effort counts and reflects our collective commitment to making a difference. This award is a celebration of our united spirit of service.

Speech 4: Accepting a Courageous Leadership Award

“leading with courage and conviction”.

Receiving the Courageous Leadership Award is a profoundly humbling experience. Leadership is not about titles or accolades; it’s about making decisions that are guided by courage and conviction, especially in the face of adversity. It’s about standing up for what is right, even when it is not easy. This award is a tribute to all the unsung heroes who lead by example every day, making our world a better place. I accept this with a promise to continue leading with integrity and courage.

Speech 5: Accepting an Artistic Excellence Award

“art as a mirror of society”.

Art is not just a form of expression; it’s a mirror of society, reflecting its beauty and complexities. As an artist, I am deeply honored to receive this Artistic Excellence Award. This journey has been one of constant exploration and expression, driven by an insatiable desire to evoke emotion and provoke thought. This recognition belongs to everyone who has ever dared to dream and create. May we continue to use our art to inspire, challenge, and bring about change.

Speech 6: Accepting a Best Educator Award

“educating for a better tomorrow”.

I am truly honored to accept the Best Educator Award. Education is the cornerstone of progress, and as educators, we have the privilege and responsibility to shape minds and nurture dreams. This award is not mine alone but belongs to all the educators who spend countless hours preparing the next generation for the challenges and opportunities ahead. Together, we are building a brighter future, one student at a time.

Speech 7: Accepting a Sportsmanship Award

“the true spirit of competition”.

Today, I stand here honored to accept the Sportsmanship Award. In the realm of sports, competition is intense, but the true spirit lies in how we play the game. It’s about respect, integrity, and fairness, both on and off the field. This award is a reminder that while winning is celebrated, how we conduct ourselves is what truly defines us. To my fellow athletes, let’s continue to uplift each other and honor the true spirit of sportsmanship.

Speech 8: Accepting a Breakthrough Scientific Award

“science: a beacon of hope and innovation”.

Receiving the Breakthrough Scientific Award is a moment of great pride and responsibility. Science is our beacon of hope and innovation, guiding us towards a better understanding of the world and opening doors to new possibilities. This award is a recognition of our collective quest for knowledge and our commitment to improving lives through discovery and innovation. To the scientific community, let this fuel our continued pursuit of answers and solutions.

Speech 9: Accepting a Philanthropy Award

“philanthropy: a commitment to humanity”.

It is with a profound sense of gratitude that I accept this Philanthropy Award. Philanthropy is about more than just giving; it’s a commitment to humanity, to easing suffering and creating opportunities for those in need. This award is a testament to what we can achieve when we channel our resources and energy towards the greater good. Let us continue to work together, for together, we can build a world of hope and shared prosperity.

Speech 10: Accepting a First Responder Bravery Award

“bravery in the face of adversity”.

Accepting the First Responder Bravery Award is an honor that I share with all first responders who put their lives on the line every day. Bravery is not the absence of fear but the strength to confront it, to run towards danger when every instinct tells you to run away. This award is dedicated to the courageous men and women who face adversity with valor and determination, ensuring safety and providing hope in our most critical moments. Your bravery is an inspiration to us all.

These speeches serve as templates, each reflecting the essence of its respective award while offering a personal touch that resonates with audiences. The goal is to inspire, to celebrate, and to remind us of the values that bring us together in recognition and gratitude.

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Award Acceptance Speech Samples

Winning an award is quite shocking in itself, and to give an acceptance speech thereafter can fluster you thoroughly. Here, we provide some sample award acceptance speeches that will help you overcome your shock and surprise, and deliver a good speech. Take a look.

Award Acceptance Speech Samples

So you have been nominated for an award, and you think your chances of winning are high. Of course, every nominee has that thought and as much as they say that there’s no chance that they are going to win, everyone secretly practices their award speeches and their graceful acceptance of the award. While in your head your thoughts are clear and you know exactly what you are going to say, when you actually win the award, things are different. As much as you wanted to win it, you find yourself flustered, scared, shocked, and sort of numb. All those speeches you had practiced are forgotten. As much as you don’t want that to happen, and want to be that person who can crack jokes and elicit a little laugh from the audience upon giving your acceptance speech, just consider the occurrence of the aforementioned scenario likely. In any case, there are always some sample award speeches you can go through, along with some tips on keeping your cool so that you can give the acceptance speech exactly as you had imagined it.

How to Give an Award Acceptance Speech A little charm is all you want, to bedazzle your audience, when you go up to accept the award and follow it up with a speech. How do you go about doing that? Let’s take a look.

  • Start by looking good on the day. When you win an award, you will definitely be in the limelight. Whether the award is for scoring well on a subject at the year end in school, or for employee of the year, dress well.
  • When your name is called out, go and accept your award graciously. Then, head to the podium to make your award speech.
  • Your job is to make a good connection with the audience. Start by thanking the ‘jury’ for the award, followed by a thanks for everyone who has helped you win this award. This does not mean you include your pet’s name in the speech too. You can mention how shocking it is for you to receive the award, but don’t do that unless it comes from within. In some cases, it just looks forced.
  • Your speech has to be short. You cannot stretch it for anything longer than two minutes, else it will get boring. Think of how you would feel as a part of the audience, if an award winner would just not stop talking about what his award means to him.

While these were some basic tips on writing a good award speech, here are two samples that will give you an idea about giving an excellent speech.

All in all, an award acceptance speech has to be given straight from the heart. No matter how much you read up and how much you practice, it is the flood of emotions at that particular moment that directs your speech. If you can be funny, feel free to add a dash of humor to your speech. Just don’t crack jokes that will dampen the audience’s mood. If you think you can’t be funny, keep it simple, and you will do just fine. All the best!

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How to Write an Acceptance Speech

Last Updated: March 21, 2024 Fact Checked

This article was co-authored by Lynn Kirkham and by wikiHow staff writer, Kyle Hall . Lynn Kirkham is a Professional Public Speaker and Founder of Yes You Can Speak, a San Francisco Bay Area-based public speaking educational business empowering thousands of professionals to take command of whatever stage they've been given - from job interviews, boardroom talks to TEDx and large conference platforms. Lynn was chosen as the official TEDx Berkeley speaker coach for the last four years and has worked with executives at Google, Facebook, Intuit, Genentech, Intel, VMware, and others. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 1,097,891 times.

When you win an award or honor, it's traditional to share a few words. Writing an acceptance speech can be challenging, so it helps to brainstorm and prepare in advance. You should open your speech with a brief introduction of gratitude, move on to thanking your benefactors, and conclude your speech with some inspiration and optimism. This is your time to shine, but showing humility will leave your audience feeling truly pleased for you and your success.

Brainstorming Ideas

Step 1 Make a list of reasons you're thankful for receiving the award or honor.

  • After you make an initial list of people you want to thank, walk away and come back to the list later. There might be people you forgot to include that you'll remember at a later time.
  • If you're worried about leaving someone important out of your speech, ask a close friend or coworker to help with your list. They might think of someone you forgot to include.

Step 3 Read other acceptance speeches for inspiration.

  • For example, if you're receiving an award for your volunteer work, try searching “volunteer award acceptance speeches” in a search engine. If you're referencing speeches in a physical book, try to find a book that has the speeches organized by award type.

Writing Your Speech

Step 1 Write a brief introduction.

  • For example, you could write “I am so honored to be standing here today to receive this community leadership award. Serving my community has been a joy and a privilege that I am grateful for every single day. I wouldn't be able to do it if it weren't for all the amazing people in this city."

Step 2 Write the body of your speech, focusing on the people you want to thank.

  • You don't have to say someone's name to show you're thankful for them. For example, instead of thanking all of your coworkers individually, you could say “I can't express enough how grateful I am for all of my amazing colleagues.”
  • You can thank the members of the organization giving you the award without listing off their names by saying something like “Thank you so much to the team at the New York Nonprofit Conference for recognizing me with this incredible award.”

Step 4 Be careful using your speech as a platform.

  • For example, if you're winning an award in recognition of your volunteer work with kids, you could mention how you think more work needs to be done to combat childhood illiteracy.
  • Don't use your acceptance speech as a time to rant about your political viewpoints or talk heatedly about a controversial topic (unless it's directly connected to the award you're receiving). You'll likely alienate members of the audience and upset the organization that gave you the award.

Step 5 Conclude your speech on a positive note.

Rehearsing Your Speech

Step 1 Read your speech out loud.

  • If there's someone mentioned in your speech that can't attend the event, invite them to practice with you. That way they get to hear your speech and you have someone to give you pointers.

Step 3 Record yourself reading your speech.

  • Notice how your voice sounds. Make sure you're speaking loud enough and that what you're saying is clear and understandable.

Step 4 Use a timer to monitor the length of your speech.

Writing Help

speech award acceptance sample

Community Q&A

Community Answer

  • Make eye contact with members of the audience to appear more engaged. [11] X Research source Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
  • Bring a copy of your speech with you onstage. You might not need to use it, but it's helpful if you forget someone's name. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
  • Avoid reading the copy of speech, but use notes and make sure to look up at the audience more tha you read what you write. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0

speech award acceptance sample

  • Avoid negative or apologetic statements during your speech. They can make you seem ungrateful. Thanks Helpful 10 Not Helpful 1

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  • ↑ https://www.huffpost.com/entry/how-to-prepare-an-accepta_b_9290348
  • ↑ Lynn Kirkham. Public Speaking Coach. Expert Interview. 20 November 2019.
  • ↑ https://www.gvsu.edu/ours/oral-presentation-tips-30.htm
  • ↑ https://professional.dce.harvard.edu/blog/10-tips-for-improving-your-public-speaking-skills/
  • ↑ https://www.washington.edu/doit/presentation-tips-0

About This Article

Lynn Kirkham

To write an acceptance speech, start with a brief introduction that expresses your gratitude and makes a connection with your audience. Then, in the body of your speech, focus on the people that you want to thank. Try to avoid thanking too many people so your audience doesn't grow impatient by sticking with the people directly involved with the award and your immediate support system. Finally, conclude your acceptance speech on a brief, positive note and thank the audience one last time. To learn how to rehearse an acceptance speech, scroll down! Did this summary help you? Yes No

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How to Give an Award Acceptance Speech to Thank, Inspire and Impress

speech award acceptance sample

Let’s say you got nominated for an award and now you have to give an acceptance speech. It’s pretty important to give a good speech, no matter what you’re being awarded for. Looking good doesn’t hurt either!

So, how do you give a good acceptance speech for your award? First off, you should ask yourself what message you would like to convey to your audience.

Generally, an acceptance speech provides the speaker with an opportunity to not only thank the individuals who helped you win the award but also highlight ideas and issues that you care about and even inspire people to do something even bigger.

Which is why it’s important that you don’t mess up.

Writing a good speech, any kind of speech, requires a lot of time and preparation, in order to ensure that you are well prepared and have included any important details that you would prefer to not leave out.

Here are a few practical tips on how you can draw up your award acceptance speech.

What is an Award Acceptance Speech? 

This is a type of speech given by an individual who’s receiving a prize, honor or an award. It is an unwritten tradition to share gratitude to individuals who you’d like or acknowledge or thank by giving a few words.

Your audience may be made up of your family and friends but also individuals in your industry who you respect and admire, so when giving an acceptance speech, ensure you make the best of it. 

award-speech

As compared to other speeches, an acceptance speech does not include a beginning , body or conclusion and doesn’t need a PowerPoint display. In addition to this, acceptance speeches aren’t allotted a lot of time as you would with a keynote speech, so you will have to make it short.

Acceptance speeches also provide you, the speaker who’s accepting the award, an opportunity to either make a great impression , no impression or a terrible one. So, you have to be careful with how you write up and give your speech.

What are the m ain Goals of an Acceptance Speech?

Your goals with regard to this speech should be to;

  • Thank the individuals who helped you in whatever you did or in your career
  • Center on one idea that you want to leave your audience with, whether it’s motivating them to work hard or inspiring them to follow their dreams
  • Make a great impression

Since you’ll only have a few minutes to give your speech, focusing on one point or one of the most important lessons you’ve learnt in life is a good way to go.

Additionally, your speech should give your audience a favorable impression about you while also letting them know that you’ve thought about what you’ve said and that you’re respectful.

How to Write a Great Acceptance Speech

Most individuals who win an award start by thanking the individuals who helped them when they accept it.

There are many different ways of thanking people, so which one is applied in this context?   Being as specific as possible when thanking individuals is the best way to go.

Therefore, you should start by:

Be Specific

Thank people by telling them exactly what they did that assisted you

You should do this in a way that is meaningful. Saying “Thank you for your support” doesn’t really mean anything.

thanking

So instead, you should look at the individuals you mention and while addressing them by their names, thank them while telling them what exactly you are thanking them for.

For instance, you can say, “Lisa, you encouraged me after being rejected by 7 different publishing houses, you were there for me.”

This will make your speech much more interesting to your audience while also appearing sincere.

Pro-Tip: Make eye contact when thanking every individual while mentioning their name, as it will not only convey respect but also sincerity.  

Tell a story

Great award acceptance speeches usually tell stories. While the time allotted to give your speech may be short, 30 seconds is enough time to give a short story.

You can either;

  • Recount an actual conversation you had with someone; be it a family member colleague or friend, about a challenge you had, how you conquered it and its relevance to the award you’re accepting.
  • Talk about an encounter that happened

Keep in mind though that if you’ll be telling a story , ensure that its relevant to the award, it’s brief and that you tell it in a way that captivates your audience.

Now that we’ve discussed how to prepare for and write your acceptance speech, we can now look into how you will deliver that speech.

How to Prepare for an Award Acceptance Speech?

Nothing is worse than having no speech prepared when you win a major award; fumbling on stage in front of an audience is not a good thing for anyone.

It also shows the individuals who nominated you that you do not respect them, so take some time and prepare.

First and foremost,

Make your speech memorable

Many of the speeches given at award shows are short, so if it isn’t memorable, it can easily be forgotten.

Good thing is you have a lot of resources at your disposal, the biggest being the internet. Thank heavens for technology! Everyone, including yourself, wants to give a great speech . Looking up great acceptance speeches on YouTube will provide you with amazing examples of great speeches.

award-acceptance-speech

Most of these examples are short, as acceptance speeches should be. Besides this, they also seen genuine, contain an emotional moment and are funny.

You may not have a funny bone in your body, which is okay as being funny will entirely be dependent on what you’ll be talking about in your speech. So, no pressure.

Rehearse your speech

It may sound ridiculous to practice your acceptance speech, especially considering that it’s brief. However, this is a great way to modify your speech to your liking.

You can do this by recording yourself giving your speech using your camera or phone.

Looking through the recording will help you pick out what you don’t like and what you like about it. This allows you to repeat your speech as many times as you want while implementing the changes you’d like until you feel happy and comfortable with its final form.

Once you are satisfied with your final take, know you already have it in the bag; you’re going to give a great speech!

Pro-Tip: Practicing helps get rid of the jitters and helps you feel more confident in both yourself and your speech.

How To Deliver Your Acceptance Speech

When delivering your acceptance speech, ensure that it’s at least entertaining . It doesn’t have to make the audience laugh so much that their ribs hurt. However, it also shouldn’t be so boring that people doze off or make conversation while you address them.

So, first off,

Don’t Be Boring

If your speech doesn’t have a few jokes in it or isn’t funny, at least try to include some emotion or a dramatic moment. Boring speeches make people want to gorge their eyes out and seal their ears, so they don’t have to look at you and hear you drone on. Don’t subject your audience to unnecessary torture.

bored-audience

Be entertaining. At the very least, say something entertaining, interesting or amusing, even if you’ll be making fun of yourself.

If you are going to show emotion, don’t go overboard

Blubbering through your speech isn’t interesting, so try to keep it together. This is where practicing your speech comes in, it helps you show just the right amount of emotion while still conveying your message to the audience.

Pro-Tip: A little emotion goes a long way, so don’t overdo it.

Using what we have so far discussed, you should be able to not only write a great speech but also present your speech to your audience in a memorable way.

Now, let’s look at a few things to avoid when giving your acceptance speech.

What to avoid in an Award Acceptance Speech

  • Do not tell your audience you don’t have a lot of time

This only uses up more time. Instead, use the time you’ve been given to the maximum advantage.

  • Do  not tell your audience that you’re nervous

Even though you might be nervous , other people may not recognize that you are. So, there’s no need to waste valuable time.

By the way, deliberately pausing or speaking slowly helps you overcome any jitters you may have. Thank me later once you try this trick of the trade.

  • Do  not thank too many people

Given that you’ll only have a few minutes to give your speech (at most), try to thank no more than five individuals.

You can send the people you didn’t thank on stage personal notes; that’s why such notes exist.

  • Do  not read your speech from a piece of paper

Not only is this devoid of sincerity, emotion and personality but it also looks scripted . Again, practicing helps you capture your main points in mind.

In conclusion, it all comes down to being genuine when thanking individuals, entertaining and leaving your audience with a good life lesson or something that inspires them. Show your audience that you, indeed, were worthy of getting that award!

Module 11: Speaking to Entertain and for Special Occasions

Award and acceptance speeches, learning objectives.

Define the characteristics of award speech.

Identify characteristics of an acceptance speech.

Presenting an Award

In an award speech, a speaker or emcee introduces an award and the winner. The introduction is meant to build excitement, and often the winner is not known until just before the award is to be presented.

Introduce yourself and thank the group or organization asking you to speak. Then name the award and explain briefly about the award you are presenting. Be sure to include the scope of the award, be it local, regional, national, or international.

Next explain what the winner accomplished to win this award. Did they write a paper or did they lead for a cause? Did they grow the largest pumpkin, finish first in a marathon, or bring community groups together to fight for justice? Your job is to present the facts and summarize the story behind their story.

Lastly, if there are other people in attendance who were competing with the winner, make sure to acknowledge them in the time you were allotted. Be sure to finish with the actual award presentation to the person or team, raising your voice and starting the applause after inviting them to receive their award.

Accepting an Award

An acceptance speech often follows an award speech and is given by the winner of the award.

An acceptance speech, like any other speech, should be prepared in advance. Thanking the givers of your award is your first order of business. State how much and why you are grateful for this honor, and if possible, name the people in the organization individually.

Then thank and give credit to those who helped you achieve the award including family, friends, mentors, and others who supported you in this endeavor. Include their names, their roles, and how their combined efforts made it possible for you to receive this honor. If you can’t name all the individuals, name the groups as time will allow.

Briefly share what the honor of the award means to you, and be generous with your praise and your gratitude toward your colleagues and the organizations involved. Smile and carefully look for directions on leaving the stage.

To Watch: Berta Cáceres, Goldman Prize acceptance speech

Environmental and indigenous-rights activist Berta Cáceres, co-founder of the Council of Popular and Indigenous Organizations of Honduras (COPINH), won the Goldman Prize for grassroots environmental activism is 2015 after organizing the Lenca people of Honduras to force the world’s largest dam builder to pull out of the Agua Zarca Dam project on the Río Gualcarque. Tragically, Cáceres was assassinated the following year.

You can view the transcript for “Berta Caceres acceptance speech, 2015 Goldman Prize ceremony” here (opens in new window) .

What to watch for:

In the case of winning an award for a social cause (in this case, environmental activism), it is common to focus on the severity of the problem at hand—that is, to shift the focus from yourself to the problem you are fighting against. Note how Cáceres begins by framing the cause within the belief system and worldview of the Lenca people. She then explains the mission of the organization she helped to found. Next she turns to her call to action: “¡Despertemos¡ ¡Despertemos Humanidad¡ Ya no hay tiempo.” (Let us wake up! Let us wake up, humanity! We’re out of time.) The ending of her speech reminds us that gratitude and humility are the most important elements of an acceptance speech. If thanks aren’t in line with the gravity of the topic, a dedication can serve a similar purpose: “Dedico este premio a todas las rebeldías, a mi madre, al Pueblo Lenca, a Río Blanco y a las y los mártires por la defensa de los bienes naturales.” (I dedicate this award to all the rebels, to my mother, to the Lenca People, to the Río Blanco, and to all the martyrs who gave their lives in the struggle to defend our natural resources.)

  • Berta Caceres acceptance speech, 2015 Goldman Prize ceremony. Provided by : Goldman Environmental Prize. Located at : https://youtu.be/AR1kwx8b0ms . License : Other . License Terms : Standard YouTube License
  • Award and Acceptance Speeches. Authored by : Patricia Atkinson with Lumen Learning. License : CC BY: Attribution

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speech award acceptance sample

How to give an award acceptance speech

  • James Haynes
  • September 19, 2022

Table of Contents

Introduction.

Congratulations! You’ve won an award. Maybe you’ve been selected for the prestigious  National Speakers Association’s Speaker Hall of Fame . Maybe you’ve been named volunteer of the year for your local service club. Whatever you’ve won, now you may be wondering: how do I give an award acceptance speech? what kind of a speech am I supposed to give? Where can I find award acceptance speech examples ? How do I make sure my speech is memorable in a good way?

Maybe you’ve never given a speech before, and after toiling for years far from the spotlight, being put on stage is a nerve-wracking prospect for you. One of the best ways to minimize those nerves is to do your homework beforehand so you know exactly where you’re going with your talk, and reading this article is a great start! (For more on managing  nerves when you speak, check out this episode of The Speaker Lab podcast .)

Even if you’re a seasoned speaker, the structure and format of an award acceptance speech may not be what you are used to. To master the shortened format and time limits you may have, you’ll need to structure your speech in a more specialized way. For more on how to do so, read on.

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Determine the goal of your speech

First of all, what is the goal of your acceptance speech? The starting point for most, if not all, acceptance speeches, should be a humble “thank you” for whatever they have received. It may also be appropriate to highlight particular experiences or individuals who helped you to get where you are. But this can be overdone; fake modesty and a long list of thank-yous to people the audience doesn’t know can cause your audience to tune out just as much as a braggy or even vindictive diatribe. How do you strike the balance?

One way to start could be watching others’ acceptance speeches, and ideally not just speeches from the Academy Awards. Award acceptance speech examples can be found on Youtube, Vimeo, and other video-sharing sites. Learn from others but don’t mimic – You’ve probably watched a lot of speakers before haven’t you? You know the things they do that work. It’s easy to want to just duplicate what you saw them do since you know it works. But don’t do that. Learn from why it worked and how you can incorporate a similar (but not copied) methodology into your own talks.

Structuring your speech

Another tip: figure out from the event organizer what the time restrictions are for your talk. You don’t want to plan a 20-minute overture when the event organizers expect you to speak for just a minute or two! This will also set the tone for your talk.

Remember that your speech is supposed to be  shorter  than your typical speech. You shouldn’t have that much to write out. Once you’ve determined a few people you’d like to thank, maybe a story you’d like to tell, and determined the overall goal or vibe of your talk, you should start structuring your speech.

Perhaps you could begin by breaking down your speech into a few sections. For example, you could structure the speech as follows: Introduction, thanking a few specific people, telling a story or an anecdote, and conclusion. This should all take no more than 3-5 minutes. And it will  fly by .

Consider telling stories

Want to tell a story in your acceptance speech? It’s a good idea. Humans relate to stories. We connect to stories. Funny stories. Sad stories. Inspirational stories. We love stories. So tell them. Lots of them. Stories will keep your audience engaged and are also easier for you to memorize.

There’s nothing wrong with telling a 3rd person story or using some case study or example. But especially for an award you’re receiving, telling a story that you lived and experienced generally makes the story better for you and the audience. For the audience, they can oftentimes find themselves in your story. For you as the speaker, it’s much easier (and more powerful) to tell a story that you lived versus one you read in a book.

What kind of story to tell

In an award acceptance speech, any such story should be short and sweet. One way to keep an eye on the length is to try timing yourself telling the story out loud. As Harriet Turk discusses in our  podcast on creating your talk , “If you practice out loud, you learn a whole lot more about what the story hits on and what parts need to be told.” Turk goes on to say that sometimes we find that we try to tell a story the way we wrote it, but authoring a story is much different than presenting a story. A story that reads well in a book may not work as well on stage.

Some examples of stories or anecdotes that you could do well to include would be about a setback you overcame in your role, or how someone helped you in a particularly meaningful way. If that person who helped you is one of those you want to thank, it would serve as an incredibly powerful testament to their character to include such a story. Of course, if something about that story is sensitive, it would be prudent to notify them in advance that you plan to tell that story. Even if not, it could be polite to give them a heads-up, particularly if they will be in the audience for your acceptance speech.

Using humor: advantages and pitfalls

You might wonder whether or not humor is appropriate in an award acceptance speech. Generally, humor is not a bad thing to include if you want to liven up your talk. However, keep in mind that you are being spotlighted as an individual accomplishing something in an award acceptance speech, and harsh joking about other people, in particular, may reflect poorly on your deserving the award. Negative jokes about the organizer, your collaborators, or others in the audience are no-nos.

On that point, as we cover in our 100 speaking tips article,  you don’t need to be crude or inappropriate just for a laugh. It’s not worth it. If you deliver a killer keynote and are flawless throughout, but you make one inappropriate remark, nobody will remember anything else you said. There’s nothing wrong with using humor or making a strong point on something, but don’t do it at the expense of crossing the line and turning people off.

On the other hand, a dash of humor, such as light self-deprecation, can be perfectly good at keeping your speech from sounding sanctimonious or stuffy. When you tell a joke or deliver a punchline, give the audience time to laugh. Sometimes speakers like to rush to the next point, but don’t do that. You need to give the audience a chance to respond to what you just said (in this case to laugh), but also if you rush on to the next thought while the room is still laughing, nobody will hear what you’re saying.

Practice makes perfect

You’re not going to have a Powerpoint. You’re probably not going to have any visual aids. So how are you going to stay focused and find cues for your award acceptance speech?

Consider writing your speech out and timing yourself to ensure you don’t go way over any time allotments you might have. And if you don’t have time limits, consider your audience – they will almost certainly tune out after 15+ minutes of seemingly-endless acknowledgments…

Remember: Professional speakers don’t just make stuff up. They don’t write a few thoughts on a notecard and then shoot from the hip for an entire presentation. They take the time to write and carefully craft their material.

As Harriet Turk discusses in our  podcast on creating your talk , bullet points can be one way to succinctly outline a talk in a way that you can rely on, even when you’re on stage and nervous. “Bullets are easy because they trigger what it is that you’re really wanting to do,” she said, “Whereas if you write it out and then you memorize it, you could have stage fright, or you’ve practiced it so much that you get to a point that you’re nervous and you forget.”

Although you shouldn’t just be reading from a page the whole time, writing out specific names of people you want to thank can help keep you from forgetting anybody.

When you’re on stage

So you’ve written, practiced, and are headed to your acceptance speech venue to give your killer talk. What should you remember when you’re standing on the stage?

As we outline in our 100 speaking tips piece,  remember that on stage, you can be an amplified version of yourself. The bigger the venue, the bigger you need to be on stage. The way you would communicate to a group of 10 people is very different than how you would need to communicate to a room of 10,000. Both should be an authentic version of you, but simply amplified to the setting. The bottom line is don’t try to be something you’re not on stage. Be you.

Keep it slow and steady. When you are talking really fast, it becomes difficult for the audience to follow. It’s hard to keep up and process. Plus the faster you talk, the harder it is to understand what you’re saying. So slow down and enunciate. Give the audience the chance to keep up with where you’re going.

Don’t be afraid of the silence. Silence, to a speaker, can feel deafening but it can be powerful. Silence shows confidence that you’re in control of the talk and the room and you’re continuing to guide them towards a common purpose. When you make a strong point, don’t rush to the next line. Stop and let it hang there. The silence is your friend.

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All in all, giving an award acceptance speech is a great opportunity to practice your speaking skills while simultaneously a big honor! Whether you’re an experienced speaker or haven’t given one for years, these tips and processes can help you conceive of, outline, and deliver an awesome acceptance speech.

If you found this piece helpful, we have a  great podcast with Grant Baldwin on how to create your talk.  He tells us how he prepares for talks, what makes a talk good versus another talk, and what types of structures you can use to organize your content. You can listen to this  podcast on creating a talk here . Want to read more about speaking tips? Take a look at our  100 tips for motivational speaking for any speaking engagement ! Happy speaking!

  • Last Updated: February 29, 2024

James Haynes

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An award acceptance speech to inspire

In October 2009 Zambian school principal Olive Mumba traveled 10,000 miles to say thank you for being given an educational award honoring her commitment to provide schooling for children from poor families in her Lusaka community. Below is the full text of her award acceptance speech - inspired, impassioned and humble.  It was delivered at the Seattle Academy of Arts and Sciences Zambia-Seattle Partnership ‘Building Our Future’ Award/Dinner and at its end she received a standing ovation.

speech award acceptance sample

Olive Mumba, Principal, Birdland School, Lusaka, Zambia

"I bring you special greetings from Zambia, ‘the real Africa’ where hospitality is our second nature and where the warmth of the sun is like the smiles on every face.

I must say that I am humbled, honored, and at the same time excited to be in your midst to receive the award of  ‘Building our Future’. As I do so, I wish to recognize the presence of…..( names of special guests were inserted here ) Let me simply say I wish to recognize all the people to whom an especial reference is due and that is all of you dear ladies and gentlemen gathered tonight.

L adies and gentlemen, my acceptance and receipt of this award and honor would be not be complete without letting you walk with me along memory lane, to see where we are coming from,  and to pay tribute to the many gallant men and women who have made this milestone a reality.

I n 2001, Birdland was established to provide primary education in the Kaunda Square and surrounding communities of Lusaka. As I speak, the school has grown from 2 children in 2001 to 300 children currently and caters for children from nursery to 7th Grade. These children are served by a dedicated team of teachers and support staff whose number now stands at 23.

A s the school was growing, we realized that some of the parents and guardians were struggling to pay the minimal school fees. In order to assist them, we started a revolving fund from which the parents would borrow and start up small business ventures. This enabled them to pay the school fees and to improve their livelihood.

L adies and gentlemen, I stand here, tall and excited to let you know that this effort has resulted in the setting up of a duly registered and viable micro-finance institution whose target market has grown from what it was to now cater for the rural women who require finance to either obtain agriculture implements or to send their children to school. I am glad to report that this facility currently has a portfolio of 240 clients!

I n 2004, a partnership was forged between the Seattle Academy of Science and Arts and Birdland School. This partnership has grown and accomplished many notable things including the following:

  • The construction of an ablution block which has reached near completion with the help of  funds made available by SAAS
  • 24 laptops were donated to Birdland school resulting in increased computer literacy of the children
  • 44 school desks were procured again with the help of  funds made available by SAAS
  • At various intervals we have received an assortment of reading books
  • The donation of a book binder has enabled Birdland School to make simple books which our children use either as reading books or workbooks
  • The donation of uniforms, bedding and clothing for some of our vulnerable children has certainly put beaming smiles on the faces of many
  • The mattresses that were donated did not benefit the children alone but their parents and guardians as well
  • The burden of paying school fees for some of our vulnerable children has also been eased by the support of both past and current students of the Seattle Academy of Science and Arts.

C urrently, we are constructing a school library. It  will have a sitting capacity of 50 students and will also be used a resource center. It will not only cater for the pupils but also for the community in which the school is located.

Y ou may wish to know that there is no such facility in the entire area and the nearest library is located almost 7 kilometers away. We believe that as children have access to books and the internet, they will be able to do more research and understand the world better.

L adies and gentlemen, today we face the following challenges:

  • the ongoing development of infrastructure  
  • the construction of classroom blocks
  • teacher retention
  • as well as the urgent need to put in place a reliable water supply and sanitation system.

Y es, they are big challenges and could be overwhelming if we let them. But we will not let them! We are determined to face them and win through.

O n behalf of Management and Staff of Birdland School, allow me to pay special tribute to Don Zwiers, Sonja Nielsen, Douglas, Peter, and Nick Lew for magnifying my little efforts and making this award possible. I must also express my thanks, deep admiration, and appreciation to Melinda Mueller who took the risk of trusting a total stranger several years back when this dream was in its infancy.

M y other thanks go to all of the past and present students, parents and guardians  as well as partners for your financial and material support without which our projects would not have taken off.  Back home, my dearest friend and Husband Phillip, and my two wonderful children, Kalomba and Lomadinga also deserve my deepest expression of gratitude for their support and confidence throughout this journey.

L adies and gentlemen, if this award stands for anything, it stands for the united spirit in all of us even though it has my name on it. I achieve because we achieve and we achieve because we meet the challenges together!

A s I accept this award on behalf of you all I would like to remind everybody that what we are doing today is planting a seed for the future. Thank you so much and God bless you all!"

Background of Olive's award acceptance speech

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The Seattle Academy of Arts and Sciences (SASS) runs a partnership program with schools in Zambia. Its students take part in fundraising activities to raise money for books, desks,teaching equipment and buildings.

The school also recognizes those who have made significant contributions to enhance the lives of others. In 2009 their annual 'Building Our Future' award went to Olive Mumba, Principal and Founder of Birdland School, Lusaka, Zambia in acknowledgment of her work and ongoing tireless passionate commitment to enable the children in her community to have an education.

(Read more about the history of Birdland School )

To receive the award Olive went to Seattle. During her 3 week stay she visited the SASS classes whose students had fund raised for her school, was interviewed by local newspaper reporters, and attended the dinner where she delivered this award acceptance speech.

- Photos from the Leadership Award Dinner

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speech award acceptance sample

How to Give an Award Acceptance Speech?

How to Give an Award Acceptance Speech?

  • Filed under: Featured articles , Public speaking articles , Public speaking tips and tricks , Speech preparation

You’ve been nominated for an award and now you have to give an acceptance speech. It might be an Academy Award where the whole world is watching or it might be an award for the best coach in your little league. Regardless, it’s still important and you would like to look good while giving this speech.

So, how to give an award acceptance speech? It is an opportunity to put a spotlight on ideas you care about, to thank the people who helped you win the award and to give your audience at least one take away.

Therefore, don’t blow it. Don’t wait until the last minute with the preparation and don’t make excuses.

And if you don’t win… well, maybe you will use the acceptance speech next year or next time. So, today I am going to give you practical tips on how you can prepare for your award acceptance speech.

But there’s a lot more to public speaking you should know so I wrote an article about best public speaking books to read. Check out these books here .

Table of Contents

What is an acceptance speech?

An award acceptance speech is a speech given by a person who is receiving an award, honor or prize. When you win something, then it is a tradition to say a few words and share some gratitude toward those you would like to thank or acknowledge.

In the audience are your friends, family and perhaps people in your industry who you respect, so make the best of it.

Let’s start off by focusing on your goals for this speech because, after all, an award acceptance speech is still the same as any other speech. Now, it might be a short one. It might only be 60 seconds long before that music comes in and you’re asked to get off stage…but it’s still a speech.

How is award acceptance different from other speech types?

Well, it is different in a lot of ways. For example: you’re not going to have a PowerPoint display. You’re not going to have a beginning, middle and end, and you’re not going to share funny stories.

Also, you’re not going to walk around the stage and talk for 50 minutes like you would in a keynote speech.

Acceptance speech gives you an opportunity to make:

  • A great impression
  • An awful impression
  • No impression.

Main goals of the acceptance speech

Your goals are not to just get through this. Also, your goal is not to thank your tax attorney and 29 other service providers.

Therefore, your goal should be to:

  • Make a great impression
  • Thank the people who were relevant in helping you in your career or whatever it is you did
  • Try to focus on just one idea that you want to leave people with, whether it is inspiring people to follow their dreams or maybe motivating people to work hard, etc.

This is not an opportunity to communicate five points or more. Instead, it is an opportunity to focus on one of life’s lessons or on one really important idea.

Give people a favorable impression of you and let them know that you’re respectful and that you’ve thought about this and planned.

Recommended books

How to Deliver a TED Talk: Secrets of the World's Most Inspiring Presentations

Jeremy Donovan

Resonate: Present Visual Stories that Transform Audiences

Nancy Duarte

Confessions of a Public Speaker

Scott Berkun

Talk Like TED: The 9 Public-Speaking Secrets of the World's Top Minds

Carmine Gallo

The Checklist Manifesto: How to Get Things Right

Atul Gawande

The First 20 Hours: How to Learn Anything... Fast!

Josh Kaufman

Throughout your short award speech, let them know that you’ve got a particular idea you want to communicate and that you thank the people who helped you get to the point where you’re getting this award.

How to prepare for an acceptance speech?

There’s nothing worse than someone winning a major award (whether it is an Emmy Award or just a local club member of the year award) and sort of getting up and fumbling around, “Oh, God – I never thought I would win. So, I didn’t prepare anything…”

Show the people who took the trouble of nominating you a little respect. Do them justice and prepare. It doesn’t really take that long.

Learn from the best

Let’s face it – most acceptance speeches are not memorable. They’re instantly forgotten and they’re perfunctory.

That shouldn’t be your role model. Your role model should be great speeches. Here’s what I want you to do. I want you to go to YouTube and type in “great acceptance speeches” or “great Academy Award acceptance speeches.”

You’ll find tremendous speeches. Most of them are brief because they are acceptance speeches on TV. They’re usually always funny. They have an emotional moment and they seem genuine.

Now, you might be receiving a speech for the best accountant in your county and therefore you might not feel the need or the ability to be wildly funny, but you can still learn from the masters.

Practice your speech

I know, now you want to say, “What? It is ridiculous to practice an acceptance speech!” But actually, it is not. The best way to practice your speech is by recording yourself.

Therefore, grab a phone or camera and record yourself. Next, take a look at the recording and write down everything you liked about it and everything you didn’t like about it.

After, repeat this process as many times as needed until you’re feeling comfortable and happy. If you do that, I guarantee you’re going to deliver a great speech.

Also, don’t be afraid of jinxing yourself. Prepare to accept the award and prepare to give the speech.

How to write an acceptance speech?

The first thing most people do when they win an award is to thank the people who helped them. Of course, you should thank people but remember that there is a particular way of thanking people.

Thank people in a meaningful way

Thank people in as specific a way as possible and tell them exactly what they did that helped you. Don’t just say, “Thank you for your support.” Support is too generic. It’s abstract and doesn’t really mean anything.

What you should do is:

  • Look at the people you mention
  • Address them by name
  • Thank them and tell them what you’re thanking them for. For example: “John, you were there for me when no one else was and when I couldn’t raise a penny to get this idea going. You wrote the first check.”

If you do that then it’s going to be so much more interesting to everyone. It will be meaningful and it will come across as sincere. That’s much more effective than just rattling off a long list of names.

Tell people exactly what you’re thanking them for. Look them in the eye if they’re around. Give specific examples; this way, your thanks has real meaning.

Make a point, tell a story

The best award acceptance speeches always tell a story. Now you may ask, “Well…how is there time for a story?” But I assure you that you can tell a story in 30 seconds.

  • Talk about something that happened
  • Recount a real conversation (with a friend, a colleague or a family member) about a challenge, how you overcame it and how it’s relevant to the award.

Main rules for the story you’re going to tell:

  • Make it brief
  • Make sure it’s relevant
  • Tell it in a compelling way

If you do that, you have a good story for your acceptance speech.

How to give an acceptance speech?

When you’re giving an acceptance speech, especially if it’s for anything in the creative field, keep in mind that you’re an entertainer. Therefore, something in your speech should be entertaining.

Don’t be dull – be entertaining

Now, ideally your speech should be funny but if it’s not, at least have a dramatic moment or something with a little emotion . It’s always disappointing when people who are known as world-class entertainers seem, during their acceptance speech, about as entertaining as if an accountant were reading the phonebook to you.

Remember who you are and what your strengths are. Use those strengths to entertain. You’re not going to give a humorous speech for an hour, but you do have a minute where you can say at least something amusing, interesting or entertaining.

So, plan on having something entertaining even if you’re just making fun of yourself.

Show some emotion but don’t overdo it

A little emotion goes a long way. If you’ve had a tough life and now you win some important award it’s understandable to have some emotion…but you need the right amount.

It is not very interesting if you’re out there blubbering. So, keep it together. This is one of the beauties of having rehearsed your acceptance speech – you can show the right amount of emotion and the words can still come out rather easily because you thought of it, you planned it and you rehearsed it.

But if you just take the attitude of, “Oh, I don’t want to jinx myself. I’m not going to plan anything to say – I’ll just get up there,” and then the actual emotion of the moment may overwhelm you and you just can’t say anything. Instead you kind of look like an idiot – especially if it’s on TV for the whole world to see.

So, you want emotion but not so much that you’re just blubbering.

What to avoid while giving an acceptance speech?

Here are a few things that you really need to avoid when giving an acceptance speech.

#1 Don’t read your speech

One thing I would suggest you do is to avoid reading your speech from a piece of paper. It’s just awful – it’s devoid of personality, emotion, and sincerity. So don’t read.

It’s OK to have some notes, but you certainly should not have a word for word scripted out.

#2 Don’t thank more than five people

Also, I really don’t think you should thank more than five people. If you have more people than that to thank then send them a personal note.

Don’t give a long laundry list of names and don’t read because those are the two biggest blunders that people make in the major awards shows when they are receiving awards.

#3 Don’t tell people you’re nervous

You may not know this but no one even recognizes that you’re nervous. You can tell your family and friends later that you were nervous but don’t waste valuable time.

#4 Don’t tell people that you don’t have much time

Speaking of time – don’t waste your time by telling people that you don’t have much time. “Oh my gosh, I don’t have much time. I don’t know where to start because…”

Don’t ever comment on the time. Simply use your time to maximum advantage. Use every second. Say something interesting to the audience and don’t waste time talking about the fact that you don’t have much time because now you have even less time.

So, if you avoid these pitfalls, it gives you more time to focus on saying something interesting. Perhaps something lighthearted or thanking people in a sincere way.

Final thoughts: What to say in an acceptance speech?

If I got to vote for you, I would. I’m pulling for you. I hope you win this award so you can show off your public speaking skills and give a great award acceptance speech.

It really all comes down to:

  • Be genuine in your thanks. Don’t just list names.
  • Have one interesting or entertaining thing to say.
  • Share one little story
  • Focus on your audience and don’t talk about how you’re nervous or scared.

Finally, the most important tip of all: practice your short speech in advance on video as many times as it takes so that you see in advance the speech you want to give. And then once you win, you can simply deliver the speech that you’ve already practiced. Do that and you will be in absolutely great shape.

Related questions

How long is an acceptance speech? It depends on the event but usually, it is between 45 and 60 seconds.

How do you outline a speech? Have your speech ready with nice gigantic text so you don’t have to memorize anything. Ideally, it fits on a single sheet of paper. That way you can simply glance down, scoop up a few words and keep going. This keeps you on track. (Full article here)

Useful reading

  • How to deliver a ceremonial speech? A Full Guide
  • How to Introduce Yourself in a Presentation Without it Being Awkward?
  • How to Use a Teleprompter During your Speech? A Complete Guide

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speech award acceptance sample

How to Accept an Award

The best acceptance speeches are gracious and full of heart..

By Emily Sachs

It’s your moment of triumph. So you grab the closest pen or hairbrush and launch into an overdramatic thanking of the Academy, declaring “You like me!” and telling your kids to go to bed as the invisible orchestra drowns you out.

We’ve all played out that imaginary moment. But maybe we should stop, says San Francisco speech coach Patricia Fripp . Those famous televised award speeches are actually a “what not to do” when receiving an honor. In their brief time in the literal spotlight, most winners resort to over-the-top gushing and false modesty. Or they breeze through an uninspiring laundry list of verbal gratuities.

“Most Academy Award speeches are pathetic,” says Fripp, a frequent speaker at Toastmasters conferences and a former Toastmaster herself. “You want the emotional connection. Paint the picture. Inspire passion in others.”

If you are active in Toastmasters or your community, or are a generous philanthropist or a dedicated team member, chances are you will eventually be recognized for your time and efforts. And you might be expected to make some remarks in front of your peers when you do. Fear not, fellow Toastmaster: A good acceptance speech has the same objective as every good speech—to be gracious, powerful, and memorable—only in less time than a typical speech.

“You can have more impact with a well-crafted three- to five-minute speech than you can with 45 minutes,” Fripp says. “However, every word must count.”

Practice in Pathways

The “Deliver Social Speeches” project in the Pathways learning curriculum gives all Toastmasters the opportunity to practice receiving honors—and bestowing them—through a choice of two social occasion speeches. These are designed to be delivered in three to four minutes each. This unique project has endless real-life applications—from offering a toast at a family celebration to honoring a retiring coworker or even getting public recognition.

Pathways offers the following guidelines for award-acceptance speeches:

  • Express your gratitude and be genuine.
  • Demonstrate why you are deserving of the honor.
  • Recognize those who helped you achieve success.
  • Personalize your speech with anecdotes.
  • Respect the audience and the clock.

Fripp’s failproof approach to a winning acceptance speech is to tell a story about the organization or group giving the honor If it’s a college alumni award, for instance, talk about the awe you felt the first time you visited the campus in person. For a workplace award, speak about a manager who encouraged you to stay during a difficult period. Or, in the case of a named award, reference the namesake and describe your lifelong admiration of their achievements.

When it comes to pitfalls, Fripp says to avoid these two things: trying too hard to be funny and speaking without preparation. Even her own coaching clients, many of whom are business executives, are steered wrong by award shows. “Be profound, be wise, be gracious. But don’t try to be funny if you aren’t; otherwise, it will backfire,” she says. Even an innocent, self-deprecating remark can bomb. Declaring that you don’t deserve an award or that anyone could have done what you did is not only an insult to the other nominees, but also to the prior winners and especially to those who nominated and selected you.

Man holding up award onstage

Will Heeman knows well the careful balance required to be both funny and respectful. The “Chief Daymaker” of Heeman’s, his family’s garden and farm business in Ontario, Canada, he has accepted three business awards in the last five years at the London (Ontario) Chamber of Commerce gala, before 1,500 other community leaders. Business events can be especially dry, and he says that industry puns—“dad jokes,” if you will—can find a receptive audience at them. In 2019, he accepted the chamber’s Environmental Leadership award on the first day of spring. “We’re so excited today,” he told the audience, “that we wet our plants!” The quip hit the mark and still gets repeated.

Preparation Is Key

As for using the big event as your “Evening at the Improv,” Fripp instead suggests being “perpetually prepared” in order to be gracious in front of your peers. We all have the opportunity on a regular basis to practice publicly expressing appreciation—whether on conference calls at our jobs, in committee huddles for our community work, or at our Toastmasters meetings.

For example, if you are asked to present a status update on a project, Fripp suggests you try saying something like, “On behalf of the dedicated three-person public relations team, thank you for the opportunity to report on our progress. You will be pleased to hear that our extra hours and late-night emails enabled us to complete our website redesign two weeks ahead of schedule. This feat wouldn’t have been possible without the generous technical assistance of the treasurer, as well as your support.” If you work this type of phrasing into your everyday speaking, it won’t be difficult to do so when called up to receive formal recognition, Fripp says. It might even plant the seed that you are a leader worthy of recognition.

Of course, being prepared also means drafting a speech ahead of any awards ceremony and practicing it with others enough times that you won’t need notes. You never know if you will have your hands full with a microphone or the award or if the lectern is unwieldy. Fripp also advises confirming ahead of time if you are expected to deliver remarks. “If you know you are going to accept an award, prepare, script, and rehearse,” she says. “If you believe you may be called to accept an award, prepare in case.”

Aaron Lee of Oxford, England, was a tuxedoed finalist sitting at the 2017 Museums + Heritage Awards ceremony when he discovered that the winners were giving speeches. A few categories later, he was doubly surprised to hear his name called as a Volunteer of the Year winner. In front of a room of 350 others, the then- university student delivered his first-ever formal remarks.

“Before I was called, I had a mental idea of what I would say,” he says, “and then you get called and that goes out the window.”

Lee admitted to the audience that he hadn’t even known he was nominated until he was short-listed. His shock quickly settled and he expressed appreciation to the audience, the sponsors, his nominators, and even the event staff serving the dinner. He won the award for his work at the Museum of Oxford, a gem of a civic museum that gets overshadowed by those of neighboring Oxford University—“which are alright,” he deadpanned to the crowd representing many of the U.K.’s most notable institutions.

These award winners agree that being honored is only the beginning. Immediately after the ceremony, you will have a room full of people waiting to congratulate you, so make it easy for them. Lee says he got positive feedback after speaking and was also invited to later do a radio interview. Heeman, the Canadian awardee with the agricultural business, says that such a speech might be your only chance to make a first impression to a room of potential customers or connections.

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Acceptance Speech Example

As a college instructor and communication expert with extensive nonfiction and educational writing experience, Mary shares tips and advice related to a wide variety of topics.

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If you receive an award that's presented at a public event or membership gathering, you will be expected to deliver a short acceptance speech. This speech is your chance to say thank you to the awarding organization or individuals and also serve as an inspiration to others who may have goals similar to yours.

Template for an Acceptance Speech

Writing an acceptance speech doesn't have to be difficult, especially if you start with this fill-in template as a foundation on which to build. Open the template by clicking the image below. If the document doesn't open right away, use the tips in this guide for printables to troubleshoot.

  • Impactful Volunteer Appreciation Speech Samples & Tips
  • Self-Introduction Speech Examples & Tips to Help You Be Confident & Calm
  • Student Council Speech Ideas & Tips to Help You Win

After the document launches, click anywhere in the highlighted area to make text changes using your keyboard and mouse. You can change as much or as little of the wording as you like, being sure to fill in the areas between the brackets ([ ]), as they represent spots where you'll need to specify information relevant to your individual situation.

When you're finished customizing the document, use the toolbar commands to save, then print.

Acceptance Speech Writing Tips

Even though this template can give you a head start on writing your speech, the final document will have to be customized to your particular situation. Key tips to keep in mind include:

  • Before going to the award ceremony, find out if the winner will be expected to deliver a speech and ask how much time is allocated for the individual to speak. This will help you determine how long your remarks should be.
  • Be a gracious winner, acknowledging others who were nominated for the award (if you have access to that information) and saying thank you to the awarding organization and individuals who helped you along the way with whatever it is you are being recognized for.
  • Put careful thought into deciding who you need to acknowledge when delivering your remarks. It is much better to spend time up front making sure you include everyone rather than having to apologize for leaving someone out after the fact.
  • Avoid coming across as arrogant. Instead, be sure that you accept the award in a spirit of humility and gratitude.
  • End with a focus on the future, addressing what may come next for you as a result of experiencing the honor of receiving the award.

Accepting an Award With Style

Delivering a sincere, quality acceptance speech will guarantee you come across as a consummate professional who is both humble and accomplished. Practice your remarks carefully ahead of time, and take your notes with you so you have them to rely on when delivering your speech.

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15+ BEST Award Acceptance Speech Examples

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It is everyone’s dream that their efforts and work get recognized and for this purpose, people in different fields are presented with an award. The award is the recognition of one’s efforts and contributions in a particular field. When you win an award, be it in a school or college, for a sports competition, or you win an Oscar or Golden Globes, it is always recommended to give an award acceptance speech. In this article, we have got some amazingly helpful award acceptance speech examples available here for you on this page.

BEST Award Acceptance Speech Examples

Human rights award acceptance speech example.

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Social Worker’s Lifetime Achievement Award Acceptance Speech PDF

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Alumni Award Acceptance Speech PDF Example

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Sample Award Acceptance Speech in PDF

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Standard Award Acceptance Speech Example

speech award acceptance sample

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Physician’s Award Acceptance Speech Example

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Example Award Acceptance Speech of a CEO

speech award acceptance sample

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How Does an Award Acceptance Speech Template Help?

When you feel confident that you are going to win an award for your work, you surely want to write a perfect award acceptance speech. For this, you can take help from the award acceptance speech samples given here on this page. These free samples will help you draft a perfect award acceptance speech with minimal effort. Of course, not every speech is a perfect one but using these pre-formatted samples will help you jot down a memorable acceptance speech for the special occasion.

The free award acceptance speech templates will enable you to customize and write down your own speech without wasting a lot of your time and effort. Moreover, if you opt for writing such a speech yourself, you will have a guide in the form of these free samples that you can follow for writing the best acceptance speech.

More Award Acceptance Speech Examples

Alumnus of the year award acceptance speech example.

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Long Award Acceptance Speech Sample PDF

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Award Acceptance Speech Example for Excellence in Art Education

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Lifetime Achievement Award Acceptance Speech Example

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Simple Award Acceptance Speech PDF Sample

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What Do You Say When Accepting an Award?

When you go on stage to accept an award or even if you are accepting an award remotely (like Sir Anthony Hopkins accepted the Oscar for Best Actor in a Leading Role for his performance in the movie, The Father via a video message), you have to deliver a speech. When delivering an award acceptance speech you can follow these steps:

  • First of all, you can express your gratitude and thank the organization, institution, or group that has honored you with the award.
  • After that, you can thank your colleagues, supporters, friends, family, or anyone else who played their part and motivated you to achieve your success.
  • You can briefly share a sweet memory or a personal story in context of the award and your achievement.
  • Express the significance of winning this award and explain what it means to you both personally and professionally.
  • Last but not least, encourage your audience with a few words of inspiration and motivation.

While delivering an award acceptance speech, keep in mind that your speech should not only appreciate the organization’s recognition of your work but should also inspire the audience. So, be genuine and humble, and chose your words carefully so that your speech should leave a lasting impression on the audience.

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Thank you Speech for Award – Speech after receiving Award

speech award acceptance sample

Table of Contents

Thank You Speech for Award: Award ceremonies are always special occasions. They are a time to celebrate success, to reflect on hard work and to show appreciation for the contributions of others. A thank you speech is the perfect opportunity to do just that. It is a chance to express your gratitude to the people who have helped you along the way and to the organization that is honoring you with the award.

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Thank you speech for award

A vote of thanks speech is also a great way to build relationships. By expressing your appreciation, you are showing that you value the contributions of others. This can help to build trust and mutual respect.

So why not take the opportunity to say thank you? It will make the award that much more special and it will help you to build strong relationships with the people who have helped you along the way.

Our long and short thank you speech for award may help you delivering an effective and impactful speech to the audience. We present to you all types of thank you speeches for award to show your appreciation to your loved ones. The language of these award speeches is simple for you to take ideas and form your own speech. You can also use it as a sample and create your own thank you speech for an event or award for any grand opening, etc.

Thank you Speech after receiving Award

Thank you speech for award – 1.

Respected Board Members, Chief Executive Officer, Managers, Supervisors and My Dear Colleagues!

This is a very auspicious moment for me as we all have gathered to celebrate the success of the completion of our much awaited project. I am here to deliver my speech on this occasion; it’s a great honour for me to be given accolades and award for the execution of the most successful and highly important project of this year. I am truly obliged for this great honour and recognition given by the management and the Board.

Being honest, the journey towards the project accomplishment and subsequently towards this award was not easy; in fact it was very long. Right from the moment when the idea was conceived to the outline of the project which was initiated later on and until today, a lot of work has been done. Transforming the idea to the real output required a good deal of efforts and various challenges came in the way. I was not alone though, I had my colleagues who walked along with me and my managers and supervisors who provided unconditional support to me. Above all, I am thankful to the Board members, CEO and the management who showed so much of trust and faith in me, which was the constant energy boost for me.

Together, we overcame every problem and challenges which have now become the milestones for us. The project was also very close to my heart because it’s about innovating means and methods to save energy and water and ultimately support sustainability. I am very glad to announce that we did it!

Initially, I assumed, it was really difficult to accomplish the desired result within the time that we had stipulated to ourselves. But, I would say, it was all team work and the never-ending belief in our hard work and honest objective. I would like to utilise this platform to express my deep gratefulness to the members of the project who worked relentlessly on this project for one year. Needless to say, every participant of the project has contributed equally to the project.

Being the Project Manager, I am greatly honoured to say that the team had converted into a family; our project being our child. I still remember the brainstorming sessions and the candid and ferocious discussions, sometimes at odd hours which ultimately resulted into the fruitful decisions. I am sure all my colleagues and team members do remember the time spent in the office after the working hours as and when an inspiration came in. Despite all the odds, we were certain about one thing that we were going to achieve success. The most memorable part of this project was to convince the higher management to introduce changes in manufacturing processes and methods. Though it was challenging, but I am glad that the management understood the essence of the proposal and thus our project was born.

The entire journey was a learning experience for me and with the success of this project; I am more energised and charged up to take up new and challenging projects which would work in the benefit of my organisation and the environment.

Once again, thank you everyone!

Have a great day!

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Thank You Speech for Award – 2

Good Afternoon Ladies and Gentlemen!

First of all, I would like to thank the Jury members for selecting our company as the ‘ Best Employer of the Year ’ and honouring us with this award. Well, this is a very proud moment for me as it took approximately 5 years to reach this platform. But let me tell you, I didn’t walk alone; I was accompanied by all the valuable staff members and the dedicated employees who have worked day-in and day-out to make the company one of the most recognisable brands in India. Here, I would especially like to thank the customers too, who believed in us and gave us continuous business which motivated us to work harder to give them the best services in our capacity.

Being awarded with the best employer award means a lot for me because it means our employees love our organization and they are happy with us. Every year, we internally conduct a bi-annual employee survey to determine what we are lacking at and what we are good at. The employees are only asked to fill the survey without mentioning their name or department. We maintain this fairness so that we can actually work upon the weaknesses. I especially thank all the employees who had been very honest with the survey in sharing their feelings with us, because it motivated us to do better for them and thus, we are here today receiving this award.

Since last 5 years, our company has not only worked upon enhancing the product and services we offer, but the management and HR have also worked upon making the work culture better for our internal employees too. Our company works upon 5 basic philosophies: Stability, Compensation, Respect, Health Benefits and Work-Life Balance for the employees.

I would like to take some moment today to especially thank the Human Resource Department and the Management who have worked with much dedication and formulated policies that not just work for the benefit of the customers, but also helps employees maintaining their work-life balance and thus meeting the company’s common objective.

The last 5 years have been a great journey for us and we have also seen our due share of ups and downs in the company. The first two years, we were busy with establishing ourselves and creating a brand name and image and the next 3 years we worked in maintaining the image that we established. The company has also seen the downturn for 1 continuous year, but the constant and unconditional support that I have got from the staff, management, and the employees was outstanding, which motivated me to come over the challenge.

I would also like to mention the name of the shareholders, who have always trusted and believed us and have continued to invest in our company.

Last but not the least of course, winning this honour wouldn’t have been possible without my family’s moral support and inspiration; they are truly my backbone.

I sincerely thank each one of you for your continuous support and also all the internal and external stakeholders who are directly or indirectly involved in the making and functioning of our company.

With this note, I’ll end my speech with the promise that there are more such awards to follow.

Thank you Speech for Birthday

Thank You Speech for Award – 3

Good evening everyone,

Thank you jury for this honor and giving this award in my hand, it makes feel great on being rewarded for the hard work that one does.

I am grateful to everyone who has always been a part of my journey, from my family to friends, from boss to my team and everyone. It is a pleasure to witness this beautiful moment in the presence of you all. On stage it is me who is taking over this award but on backend there are many people along with the great power of god who have enabled me to put in efforts and make me capable of getting this award. Each one of you has enabled me to bring the ideas into reality. My strength always increased on dealing with the challenges and overcoming them.

I cannot thank god enough for making my existence fruitful and ensuring that my focus drives through dedication throughout the deeds that I do for myself and the people related to me. This award is a symbol of the blessings that I have received during my journey till now. I am grateful of having held this award as a return towards my attempt towards my tasks with utmost purity and dedication.

Many challenges and problem appeared in the journey but with time and dedicated efforts each of them got solved and hence it is today that you all can see how blissful smile is accompanying me this evening. Each of my team members deserves this equivalent award for all the day to day tasks attempted by them. We always aim at working as a family and have a united focus on our dreams which enables us to work and cope with higher expectations. Our collective team efforts have resulted in such incredible results, and it is a great achievement of each individual team member.

I am glad to clear all the scrutiny levels and have the privilege of selected amongst all for this award. I cannot thank my parents enough for the education privilege that they have given me; without this it would have never been possible to reach such heights and stand in front of such skilled and well qualified people. This award is surely a reward for the past tasks successfully done by me and my team. But on the other hand, this reward will be a big time motivation for the projects coming our way. This will be the encouragement and rise in our enthusiasm for doing the best and reaching more great heights that make us eligible for receiving award every time at this huge platform of recognition.

My sincere gratitude to all for the tremendous ongoing encouragements that have throughout enabled me to put in the efforts and all time dedication for attainment of wonderful things. Collated team achievements much more mesmerizing than the partial achievements achieved through alone efforts. Thank you team for every time that you have held my hand to take everything together from all ends and make our deeds capable of reaching this huge stage.

Thank You everyone!

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Thank You Speech for Award – 4

A very good evening to the audience and most special jury members,

I cannot thank you people enough for choosing me for this award. Standing here on this stage is an inexpressible event in itself. I am glad that you people acknowledged our efforts and chose us amongst all others for this award. Since past 3 years I have been attending this award ceremony and each year my dream of coming on this stage having hold this award in my hand grew badly.

And today by the grace of God it is the day that I, with due diligence and gratitude hold this award firmly on behalf of each of my team member. This moment is incredible. This award is the dream come true and obviously a motivating spirit for all my future activities. By getting such physical rewards one move with more dedication and focused intentions to get the dreams into reality and prosperity in all the endeavors.

This award is a token to my team for all the efforts they put in and all the motivation and trust that they show towards me. Without them things wouldn’t have turned out so well and best that the jury after this intense scrutiny would have picked us for the award. Thank you to each and every team mate of mine for their graceful presence during the entire tenure for mine and their success. By having this award in our cabin, we all would be more self motivated for doing our best. This is a token of our past efforts and also a push factor for our future endeavors.

Thank you everyone for having the trust on assigning such things to us. God has always been the one that enables me to progress, and what I feel is that the entire surrounding of mine from my parents to friends to colleagues to teammates, everybody is blessed through God. I can witness this by seeing each of their effort being converted into an excellent thing. This award is a symbol of our accomplishments. Thank you all!!

By acknowledging and receiving this award I ensure you people that my future deeds would only get well skilled and just better. I will ensure that this award is just the beginning and soon with time much more awards are on my way. This courage and confidence has only come in by the trust that you people have in me. Thank you for this motivation and faith.

Working together and seeing such wonderful outcomes is exceptionally wonderful and makes one feel content. Thank you god for blessing me with such great people that allow me to bring the best in me and encourage me to further reset my limits to extreme. Thank you! Each one of you has made this evening way too special and memorable for me.

A huge thanks to everyone presents here and once again the most sincere thanks to our jury members. Thank you.

Thank you Speech for Parents to show your gratitude

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FAQs on Thank You Speech on Award

How do you say thank you for an award speech.

When expressing gratitude for an award, start by acknowledging the honor, share your appreciation for those who made it possible, express humility, and convey your excitement and honor to receive the award.

What do you say in an award speech?

In an award speech, begin by thanking the organizers and those who supported you. Share your feelings of gratitude, discuss the significance of the award, acknowledge your team if applicable, and end with a heartfelt thank you.

What do you say after winning an award?

After winning an award, express your surprise and gratitude. Thank the awarding body, your supporters, and any relevant individuals or groups. Share your enthusiasm for the recognition and its importance to you.

How do you start a thank you speech?

Start a thank you speech by acknowledging the occasion, expressing gratitude, and briefly mentioning the significance of the moment. Then, thank the people or organizations involved and express your appreciation.

How do you write a short award speech?

To write a short award speech, keep it concise and focused. Start with a brief introduction, thank those involved, acknowledge the award's importance, and express your gratitude. Keep it under a few minutes to maintain impact.

How do you end a thank you speech example?

To conclude a thank you speech, reiterate your gratitude, express hope for future collaborations or achievements, and leave the audience with a positive and memorable closing statement. For example: 'Thank you all once again for this incredible honor. Let's continue to work together and make a difference in the world.'

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Best giving an award speech examples, winning words: giving an award speech examples that impress.

Giving an award speech can be nerve-wracking, but it’s also a great opportunity to express gratitude and inspire others. Whether you are receiving an award or giving one, it is important to understand the importance of an award speech and how it can impact the audience. In this blog post, we will discuss the guidelines to compose an impactful award speech that leaves a lasting impression on the audience. We will cover everything from brainstorming ideas for your speech, crafting the perfect words to express your gratitude and address the competition, to delivering an effective speech that inspires everyone in attendance. So if you want to learn how to give a great award speech, keep reading!

Understanding the Importance of an Award Speech

Recognition of hard work, dedication, and commitment is a fundamental aspect of a good award acceptance speech . The opportunity to deliver such a speech can inspire and encourage both the speaker and the audience. It serves as a platform for expressing gratitude and honor, while also accepting recognition for one’s work. Moreover, award speeches mark significant milestones and achievements, highlighting the success of an individual or team. This public acknowledgment further emphasizes the importance of celebrating excellence and fostering a positive organizational culture. Such acknowledgment by a CEO in an award acceptance speech can have a profound impact on the recipient and the entire team, making it a crucial aspect of any event or ceremony.

Expressing Gratitude in an Award Speech

Expressing gratitude in an award speech is essential to convey appreciation for the recognition and the efforts of the award ceremony organizers. Team members deserve recognition for their contributions and dedication to the shared success. Acknowledging the encouragement received from others is crucial in making such awards possible. It’s important to express gratitude for more such awards that recognize work well done, as they motivate continuous improvement. Lastly, thanking the people who have supported, guided, and mentored throughout the journey is a genuine display of gratitude. A heartfelt award acceptance speech can inspire others and reflect positively on the CEO and the organization.

Addressing the Competition and Sharing the Glory

Sharing the spotlight with fellow nominees is a mark of respect and admiration for their achievements. Recognizing the efforts of competitors not only elevates the significance of the award but also underscores the spirit of healthy competition. It’s crucial to extend the honor of winning to the entire team, acknowledging their hard work and commitment. The award acceptance speech becomes more meaningful when shared with those who contributed to its success. Emphasizing the collective effort underscores the significance of collaboration in achieving such prestigious accolades.

Guidelines to Compose an Impactful Award Speech

Crafting an impactful award speech involves honoring, expressing gratitude, and inspiring. The speech should reflect genuine gratitude and recognition for the award. It must acknowledge the hard work, dedication, and good examples that contributed to the win. A genuine acceptance speech reflects gratitude, dedication, and honor. Ultimately, the speech should focus on making a genuine impact, honoring others, and encouraging the audience.

Brainstorming Ideas for your Speech

When crafting your award acceptance speech, it’s crucial to reflect on the impact of the award, carving out ample time for expressing gratitude, recognition, and delivering an acceptance speech that resonates. Personalizing the speech is key; emphasize your journey, express genuine gratitude, and honor those who contributed to your success. Consider various speech examples, focusing on appreciation, gratitude, and exemplary deliveries. Explore additional awards and public speaking opportunities to gather inspiration. You may even draw insights from wedding speech examples to infuse your speech with warmth and heartfelt appreciation.

Crafting the Speech

Crafting an award acceptance speech involves conveying gratitude, dedication, and honor. The speech should reflect the recipient’s recognition, acceptance of the award, and genuine gratitude. Personalizing the speech with examples of recognition, acceptance, and gratitude demonstrates sincerity and appreciation. By highlighting the hard work, dedication, and time invested in achieving the award, the speech becomes more impactful. It is essential to craft a speech template that not only reflects the individual’s gratitude but also acknowledges team members’ contributions and recognizes other outstanding achievements.

Delivering an Effective Award Speech

Exuding gratitude, recognition, and the acceptance of honor is essential when delivering an award acceptance speech. Incorporating good speech examples, acknowledging team members, and expressing gratitude are key elements for an impactful award acceptance. This speech should reflect dedication, gratitude, and recognition, aiming to resonate with the audience. Crafting a personalized speech that includes examples of public speaking, acknowledgment of the effort, and a warm greeting sets the tone for a memorable delivery. By dedicating much time to preparation and considering various scenarios, you can ensure the delivery of a compelling and effective award acceptance speech.

How does one ensure their speech leaves a lasting impression?

To ensure your speech leaves a lasting impression, focus on expressing gratitude, recognizing team members’ hard work, and incorporating examples of successful public speaking. Make time for appreciation, recognition, and delivering a well-crafted speech that captivates the audience. Remember, a good evening starts with a memorable speech.

What are some award speech examples?

In conclusion, delivering an impactful award speech requires a combination of gratitude, humility, and the ability to connect with your audience. Expressing heartfelt gratitude to those who have supported and believed in you is essential. Acknowledging the competition and sharing the glory with them shows sportsmanship and respect. When composing your speech, brainstorm ideas that reflect your genuine emotions and experiences. Craft a speech that is concise, well-structured, and captures the essence of the award. To leave a lasting impression, focus on delivering your speech with confidence, enthusiasm, and authenticity. Engage your audience through storytelling, humor, or personal anecdotes. Remember, a great award speech not only honors your achievements but also inspires and uplifts others.

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  6. Acceptance Speech For Winning An Award

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COMMENTS

  1. Award Acceptance Speech

    Hence, here is a guide you can refer to when you write an award acceptance speech: 1. Brainstorm ideas. This part of your process will be the foundation or outline as you go along with the actual writing process. This will enable you to generate ideas on how you want your speech to go and what yu want to include in the speech.

  2. Short Award Acceptance Speech Examples: Inspiring Examples

    A good acceptance speech acknowledges the efforts of team members and reflects gratitude. Writing an award acceptance speech that inspires others is essential, especially for CEOs and business executives. It's an opportunity to inspire hard work and sustainability while acknowledging the achievements of the company.

  3. 10 Short Acceptance Speech Samples

    Short Acceptance Speech Samples. Each is crafted to not only express thanks but to resonate with the audience, leaving a lasting impression of the occasion and the individual honored. ... 10 Award Acceptance Speech Samples; 10 Father of the Bride Speech Samples; 10 Student Council Speech Samples; 10 Sample Letters of Request to Use a Venue;

  4. The Best Awards Acceptance Speech Examples From 2020

    One of the best treats of last year's film awards season was Pitt's emergence as a bona fide stand-up comedian. Praising his "Once Upon a Time in Hollywood" co-stars' feet and saying ...

  5. Award Acceptance Speech Samples

    Award Acceptance Speech Samples. Winning an award is quite shocking in itself, and to give an acceptance speech thereafter can fluster you thoroughly. Here, we provide some sample award acceptance speeches that will help you overcome your shock and surprise, and deliver a good speech. Take a look.

  6. How to Write an Acceptance Speech: 12 Steps (with Pictures)

    3. Record yourself reading your speech. Use a camcorder, computer, or your phone. Make sure you're standing for the recording and set the camera far enough away that it captures your entire body. If you'll be giving your speech at a podium, find something to use as a podium for the video, like a table or a desk.

  7. How to Give an Award Acceptance Speech to Thank ...

    As compared to other speeches, an acceptance speech does not include a beginning, body or conclusion and doesn't need a PowerPoint display.In addition to this, acceptance speeches aren't allotted a lot of time as you would with a keynote speech, so you will have to make it short.. Acceptance speeches also provide you, the speaker who's accepting the award, an opportunity to either make a ...

  8. Award and Acceptance Speeches

    An acceptance speech often follows an award speech and is given by the winner of the award. An acceptance speech, like any other speech, should be prepared in advance. Thanking the givers of your award is your first order of business. State how much and why you are grateful for this honor, and if possible, name the people in the organization ...

  9. How to give an award acceptance speech

    Perhaps you could begin by breaking down your speech into a few sections. For example, you could structure the speech as follows: Introduction, thanking a few specific people, telling a story or an anecdote, and conclusion. This should all take no more than 3-5 minutes. And it will fly by.

  10. Award acceptance speech example

    Below is the full text of her award acceptance speech - inspired, impassioned and humble. It was delivered at the Seattle Academy of Arts and Sciences Zambia-Seattle Partnership 'Building Our Future' Award/Dinner and at its end she received a standing ovation. Olive Mumba, Principal, Birdland School, Lusaka, Zambia.

  11. How to Give an Award Acceptance Speech? [A Full Guide]

    An award acceptance speech is a speech given by a person who is receiving an award, honor or prize. When you win something, then it is a tradition to say a few words and share some gratitude toward those you would like to thank or acknowledge. In the audience are your friends, family and perhaps people in your industry who you respect, so make ...

  12. Mastering Award Acceptance Speeches: Winning Tips

    Winning Tips for Award Acceptance Speeches. Winning an award is a great feeling, but it is only half the battle. The other half is delivering an acceptance speech that resonates with your audience and makes them feel connected to you. Crafting an inspiring speech requires careful thought and planning, as well as practice and rehearsal.In this blog, we will explore the key elements of an ...

  13. Toastmasters International

    This unique project has endless real-life applications—from offering a toast at a family celebration to honoring a retiring coworker or even getting public recognition. Pathways offers the following guidelines for award-acceptance speeches: Express your gratitude and be genuine. Demonstrate why you are deserving of the honor.

  14. Mastering Thank You Speech for Award: Winning Techniques

    Starting with a captivating opening is imperative when crafting a thank you speech for winning an award at work. The body of the speech should be carefully constructed, conveying sincere gratitude and appreciation. Writing an acceptance speech for a prestigious award requires authenticity and a good way of expressing gratitude.

  15. Acceptance Speech Example

    Template for an Acceptance Speech. Writing an acceptance speech doesn't have to be difficult, especially if you start with this fill-in template as a foundation on which to build. Open the template by clicking the image below. If the document doesn't open right away, use the tips in this guide for printables to troubleshoot. Related Articles

  16. 15+ BEST Award Acceptance Speech Examples

    These free samples will help you draft a perfect award acceptance speech with minimal effort. Of course, not every speech is a perfect one but using these pre-formatted samples will help you jot down a memorable acceptance speech for the special occasion. The free award acceptance speech templates will enable you to customize and write down ...

  17. Inspiring Awards Ceremony Speech Examples

    Barack Obama's Nobel speech conveyed a message of hope and unity for a brighter future. Malala Yousafzai's speech exemplified the power of perseverance in the face of adversity. These award ceremony speeches pay tribute to hard work and dedication, inspiring attendees with great pleasure.

  18. Thank you Speech for Award

    Thank You Speech for Award - 3. Good evening everyone, Thank you jury for this honor and giving this award in my hand, it makes feel great on being rewarded for the hard work that one does. I am grateful to everyone who has always been a part of my journey, from my family to friends, from boss to my team and everyone.

  19. Best Giving an Award Speech Examples

    Crafting an impactful award speech involves honoring, expressing gratitude, and inspiring. The speech should reflect genuine gratitude and recognition for the award. It must acknowledge the hard work, dedication, and good examples that contributed to the win. A genuine acceptance speech reflects gratitude, dedication, and honor.