Contest Participation certificate templates and badges
3 free designs. A set is one design as a badge, a landscape or a portrait certificate, or all three.
Free for up to 20 recipients a year
A competition certificate template gives every entrant a record that they took part: the student who sent a painting to the school art contest, the team that built a robot for a regional challenge, the employee who pitched an idea in a company innovation contest. Schools, contest organisers, clubs, libraries and businesses give one to each contestant after the judging, so that taking part counts as well as winning.
A good participation certificate names the contest and the person, says what they entered or showed, such as original work or creative effort, and carries the date and the signature of the organiser or the head judge. A short line of thanks matters more than praise for a result.
The designs come as certificates in A4 and US Letter and as badges, which recipients can share online and verify with a QR code.
Wording
What to write on a contest participation certificate
Use these lines as they are, or as a start for your own. Every template comes with wording you can change in the studio.
Wording for a competition certificate for school
- “For taking part in our annual art contest with an original and thoughtful entry.”
- “In recognition of your hard work and creativity in the school science fair.”
- “Thank you for entering the spelling bee and representing your class with confidence.”
Contest certificate wording for adults and teams
- “For entering the innovation challenge and presenting an idea worth exploring.”
- “In recognition of your team's participation in the regional coding competition.”
- “With thanks for your entry and your spirit of fair play throughout the contest.”
Short lines for the badge or the email
- “You entered. You took part. Well done.”
- “Proud contestant in this year's contest.”
Why send it with Hyperstack
More than a PDF
Customize the template free. When it is ready, send it to everyone at once.
One design, every name
Upload a spreadsheet and Hyperstack makes a certificate of participation for each person on it, in one go.
Sent by email
Each recipient gets their own email and link. You see who opened it, downloaded it and shared it.
Anyone can verify it
The QR code opens a page that proves the certificate is real. Recipients add it to LinkedIn in one click.
FAQ
Questions, answered
Yes, as long as the two are kept apart. Give every entrant a certificate of participation and give the winners a separate award, so the participation certificate records the entry and the winner's award records the result.
Name the contest and what the child made or did, such as their poster or their science project, and add a warm line of thanks. Hand it over in front of the class or at the closing ceremony, and keep the wording free of rankings.
When a contest has categories, such as age groups, junior and senior, or painting and photography, add the category. It makes the record more exact and helps when the same person enters again next year.
Soon after the judging, ideally on the same day as the results or the closing ceremony. Waiting too long makes them feel like an afterthought, especially for children.
Yes, when the contest is relevant. Entering a coding, debate or design competition shows initiative and interest in a field, and a certificate with a verification link lets an admissions officer or employer check it.
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3 templatesYour next cohort deserves better than a PDF
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