American Legion School Award Medals

In the 1920's, the American Legion launched a program to recognize outstanding students across America who "demonstrate strong qualities of character and good citizenship." American Legion School Award (ALSA) medals were given to given to a boy and a girl in the graduating classes of elementary school, junior and senior high school, and college. "Those who receive a medal must exemplify six qualities that define character: courage, honor, leadership, patriotism, scholarship and service." The program includes 5/8" lapel pins, 1-1/4" wearable medals, and the medallions discussed below.

Tracking down the start date of the program is a challenge. On one page of the Legion website, one learns "The medals were first awarded in 1922 for boys in Pennsylvania, and in 1925 for girls. The initial categories, or points, that boys were judged on were courage, scholarship, service, honor and leadership; girls were judged on courage, scholarship, service, character and companionship." Why "character and companionship" won out over "honor and leadership" for the young women is anyone's guess; likely a reflection of the times. Another Legion source tells us: "Youth are often awarded for their scholastic achievements, but The American Legion believes they should also be praised when they demonstrate strong qualities of character and good citizenship. That's why, since 1926, the Legion has recognized such students with its School Award Medal Program."

Over 100 years later, we can eye the first medal [MACO # 1922-04] in the program, a 77mm bronze designed by a Legionnaire: R.Tait McKenzie's obverse depicts a Marine and a Soldier, rifles at the ready. The doughboy overlooks terrain that includes a church while the Marine oversees a ship, possibly at anchor in a harbor. "FOR GOD & COUNTRY" embraces the figures from the medal's rim. "SEMPER FIDELIS" -- "Always Faithful" -- is inscribed below the uniformed duo. The reverse features a left-facing federal eagle atop a center banner which identifies the award and lists five qualities of character the recipient has demonstrated. Below the banner is the American Legion Seal with a five pointed star, each representing a branch of the military:


In 1925, a unique 62mm medal for female School Award recipients was introduced. Bearing R.Tait McKenzie's distinctive monogram, it featured a young woman thematically demonstrating patriotism via raising an American flag. "FOR GOD AND COUNTRY" and "SEMPER FIDELIS" are again prominent:


In 1950, the Legion's School Award medal continued its evolution by virtue of the decision to award boys and girls identical medals. No doubt this made life easier for the thousands of Legion Posts who oversaw the awards and purchased them from the national headquarters in Indianapolis. The obverse design features three "doughboys" in full pack in the background behind three World War II era servicemen--airman, soldier, and sailor-- the most prominent being the soldier at parade rest wearing bloused trousers and an Ike inspired uniform jacket. "FOR GOD AND COUNTRY" and "SEMPER FIDELIS" reside around the medal's rim:

The 65mm medal's reverse rim lettering of five character qualities: Courage, Leadership, Honor, Service, and Scholarship encompass " a central composition of a radiant lamp of knowledge sitting atop an open book above a crossed olive branch and feather pen." One can infer the prominent bookmark ribbon portrays a Bible and not a generic "open book" in light of the Legion's constitution, which opens with: "For God and country we associate ourselves. . . ." The MACO Specimen archive [1950-031] does not include an artist attribution.Two articles published by the Numismatic Bibliomania Society in its December 18, 2016, electronic publication The E-Sylum suggest Joseph E. Renier adapted a design created by "a local artist" and are available HERE and HERE .

In 1951, the obverse was modified when a WAVE and a WAC were added to the foreground:

In 1963, the word "Patriotism" was added to the reverse. A 1972 obverse revision removed all human elements and the Marine Corps motto. In its place was an adaptation of sculptor C. P. Jennewin's 1967 American Legion 50th Anniversary Medal [MACO # 1967-051] which features a determined left-facing federal eagle who sports the American Legion emblem like breastplate armor while its talons clutch an olive branch above the motto "For God and Country."

The latest revision (to the reverse) replaced the bundled sheaf of wheat with the American Legion logo in 1973 and remains the version still sold by the Legion in its on-line store.

As documented in author -- and militaria collector-- David L. Burrows' column for militarytrader.com a total of 7 versions of the ALSA medal were created. Burrows January 2023 article includes photos of the medallions and pin-on medals and can be seen here: https://www.militarytrader.com/mili...erican-metal. Burrows has written extensively about numerous war-related medals; his article archive is at the same website.