In American culture, it is very important to show recognition when a goal, a performance or a goal is achieved: from the world of work to that of study, up to the sports field.
As can also be seen in many movies and TV series made in the US (the most recent has the name of “All-American”), Americans aspire to receive these trophies and awards.
In the workplace, the best employees are rewarded every month and every year, in the school environment at the end of each semester the students with the highest average are recognized and if the student is also a sportsman then the prize is double.
In fact, in American colleges for the category of student-athletes there are many awards to reward the dedication and sacrifices that are required daily from athletes of all university sports leagues.
The awards for the sports part are assigned by the conference committee (group), are called “All-Conference” and reward the athletes who have most distinguished themselves during the season: three different “teams” are created, teams of athletes, in which the First Team includes the best 10 athletes of the entire conference. The same goes for regions, where the closest groups are united and the “All-Region teams” and consequently the “All-Americans” are decreed. The latter is the most coveted award by all American college athletes since it is awarded to the best athletes, in volleyball 14 per team, from all over the United States. In addition, the best for each position are also recognized, for example in volleyball, in addition to MVP we have best attacker, opposite, center, libero and setter. Another particularly important award for freshmen is “Freshman of the year” which crowns the best athlete in the first year of college.
As far as the academic part is concerned, the student-athletes who have also distinguished themselves in university classrooms are also selected. This award is also given to teams by averaging the GPA (school average) of the entire team.
Particularly curious is one of the material prizes that is given to the winners of these awards. While for the All-Americans they give a plaque to hang on the wall and a kind of crystal cup/object and for the All-Academic a certificate and a plaque, for the winning team of their Conference and the national title, apart from a gigantic cup, they are also awarded the famous “ring”, the ring so much desired by all Americans.
In fact, instead of the usual medal to which we are accustomed, U.S. university athletes receive this ring on which they find engraved their surname, jersey number, date, university and conference or national title: the college has it personalized with its own colors and lots of glitter that make this jewel quite flashy. The Hall of Fame Banquet ceremony is also very popular.
Some of our athletes who managed to get the highly contested “ring” are first of all Margherita Marconi who with Park University achieved the great feat of winning the NAIA national title in 2018, the first Sportlinx360 athlete to reach this milestone as well as probably the first and only Italian to win this title.
The winners of their respective conferences are Erica Di Maulo and Rachele Rastelli with St Johns University in 2019, Chiara Bosetti with American University in 2019, Vicky Giommarini with VCU (Virginia Commonwealth University) in 2017, Caterina Cigarini with MBU (Missouri Baptist University) in 2017, Silvia Grassini with Towson University in 2019 and Michela Rucli with Hofstra University in 2018.
