5 Tips for Your Year End School Banquet

Academic Achievement Awards

Whether your year end celebration is geared towards elementary, middle, or high school students or college students, one thing will most certainly be true. After a full year of working diligently and often pushing past personal limits, participants, attendees, and others involved will definitely be ready for a well deserved, positive day full of fun, joy, laughter, food, and appreciation.

Reaping the rewards at the end of a long and usually arduous journey, like a school year, can truly make the trek worth it for many people. This exciting and monumental time is where all the hard work pays off. A year end school banquet can be the perfect event to truly express gratitude and celebrate accomplishment for individuals’ focus, dedication, labor, and passions.

There is a great deal to consider when planning your event. You must take into account guest lists, venues, dates, food, awards, and decorations. Luckily, it doesn’t have to be difficult. As long as you plan properly, hosting your event should be a breeze.

Five tips to help make your evening a success include establishing a budget, choosing a time and place, creating a menu, decorating, and planning the night’s program.

1. Establish a Budget

Essentially the foundation and starting point of your event planning, your budget can be your road map. Establishing the exact amount of money you have for the entire event and how much will be allotted for any individual items or services will help you organize your plans, develop your approach, and execute efficiently. You can use your budget to map out the details of the banquet, such as the venue, food, decorations, music, awards, invitations, etc. If you beginning planning enough in advance, you could even strategize ways to fundraise, if necessary.

2. Choose a Time and Place

When will your event take place? Which month would be best for your particular occasion? Should it be in the spring or winter? Would it be most convenient for participants in the afternoon or evening? If other events, such as proms or sporting events occur often, be sure to choose a date that does not conflict with any other important occasion. Consult any other clubs and committees that may be able to assist and/or offer information. You could even take a poll to determine the most convenient time for the majority of the attendees.

The choice of venue is extremely important. You want to host your event somewhere fun, yet you don’t want to break the bank. There are many things to consider when choosing a destination. You must be sure that the size will accommodate the crowd and that there will be ample parking for everyone as well. If there is a space, such as a gymnasium or hall, that could be utilized for free or at a reduced rate, of course, that would be an excellent choice. Catering may be required for some locations, but in choosing an offsite location, like a restaurant, be sure that it will accommodate the guests in its atmosphere as well as its menu.

3. Create a Menu

Do you want your event to be fancy or more casual? Will there be choices and if so, how many? Appetizers or no? Do you want to serve chicken, fish, beef, vegan, or something else? Should the meal be served or should it be buffet style? Will there be a dessert course? Creating a menu for your banquet involves a great deal of choices, but they can be simple. Discuss options with local restaurants, catering services, and other dining companies to learn all the available options. You will often find significant packages and discounts if you look!

4. Decide on Decorations

Once you choose themes, colors, and decorations, you have a number of options for setting your plan into motion. There are many stores and websites where you can purchase supplies, and often buying in bulk can save you money. Also, purchasing materials and then handcrafting decorations is always a fantastic experience, especially if done in groups, and a great way to cut costs. Items to consider include table cloths, balloons, streamers, candles, flowers, centerpieces, and favors.

5. Awards and Recognition

It's always important to recognize those that have gone above and beyond throughout the year. Academic Awards including trophies, engraved plaques, medals and ribbons are great forms of recognition to acknowledge students, athletes, teachers, administrators, and mentors for their contributions and achievements from the year past. At Lou Scalia's Awards, we've been honored to supply many schools, colleges, and corporations, with custom awards, plaques and trophies specific to their year-end banquet.

Thinking about presenting a a specific form of recognition at your banquet? Contact Lou Scalia's Awards today to speak with our helpful staff. We're happy to help in your banquet planning!

Bonus Tip! Don’t Forget to Have Fun! These five tips can help you plan the perfect year end banquet, but the most important tip probably, is to simply have fun and enjoy the benefits of all the hard work, individually and collectively. Reap the rewards of your labor and celebrate the achievements!