Cool

Caesar Flickerman interviews Peeta before the start of the Hunger Games

As the semester and school year wind to a close, there are several types of awards and award ceremonies at almost every educational institution around the world.  AUBG is no exception.  The first event that kicks off "awards season" is the Honors Convocation which is an opportunity to salute the accomplishments of the students who have earned the highest grades in their departments, overall, etc.

The students at AUBG have another tradition.  Apparently feeling that "Honors" convo. was not enough, the students started their own award ceremony 15 years ago.  Since "Honors" was already taken, the student ceremony was christened "More Honors" (or "Moroners," depending on your perspective).

This ceremony is not exactly the same as the honors convocation.  Instead of awards like "Valedictorian" and "Outstanding Student in History," More Honors has a rotating set of categories that include awards for "Public Enemy," "Hipster," and "Facepalm."  To receive an award at More Honors is not necessarily a "win," but it is certainly a fun event.

Which brings us to the 2012 More Honors ceremony.  The More Honors academy, in its infinite wisdom, nominated Mark for an award.  After a vote by the students, Mark was named the winner.... so Congratulations?

Where do they get these pictures?

The category was "Coolest Non-Student," as the promotional poster pictured above portrays.  The history of this award is long and prestigious.  Previous winners include a goat (technically, a "non-student").  This year the competition was particularly strong as the other candidates included a former Minnesota resident (Prof. Gilbert), the lunch ladies from the canteen (portrayed as "Chef" in the poster) and two question marks.   It is still not clear whether this award is sincere (doubtful as Mark is uncool at a level that only a Dungeons & Dragons player could comprehend) or sarcastic, but either way - He'll take it!!!

So what is the prize for winning this .... honor?  Well, it's not an Oscar or an Emmy, those were already taken.  The only prize statue that was left was the..... well, the Dickie.

Dickie (*editor's note: AUBG logo added for your protection)

This will, of course, hold a place of honor wherever it is displayed.

Omar sneaks up to investigate the suspicious invader.

After the winner's name was announced, Mark was brought before the assembled masses (the More Honors ceremony is one of the most well attended events of the year with more than 1000 people in attendance) to banter with the event's hosts. 

Note to More Honors academy planning committee: You know what someone with a head the size of Mark's head does NOT need?  A giant screen with a close up of the huge head directly behind him... oh wait, we have that?  Well, that probably won't look too silly....

"My head is abnormally large..."

Oh, great.

Mark works on his "Facepalm" for next year's award.