The Custom Insert Award Medal That Does It All: Meet the Hodges Badge GFL Medal
Let's be honest, planning an awards program can feel like a lot. You've got an event to run, a budget to manage, participants to impress, and a deadline that's closer than you'd like. The last thing you need is an award medal process that's complicated, slow, or full of surprises.
That's exactly why our 2-5/8" Custom GFL Award Medal with Satin Neck Ribbon has been one of our bestsellers for years. It's simple to order, endlessly customizable, works beautifully across every type of event and it's a Hodges Badge exclusive, so no one else has it.
Whether you're organizing a 5K race, a dog show, a horse show, a county fair, a gymnastics invitational, or a school awards ceremony, let us walk you through why the GFL medal might be exactly what you've been looking for.
What Makes the GFL Medal So Popular?
We talk to event organizers every single day, and the thing we hear most often is: "I want something that looks great and feels professional, but I don't have three months or a huge budget."
GFL Medals deliver on both counts.
It features our exclusive Hodges design with a 2” center insert window, a recessed area in the face of the medal where YOUR custom artwork lives. That insert is where your logo, event name, or one of our stock designs gets printed and placed, giving the medal a polished, custom look without the longer production timeline of a fully cast-from-scratch medal.
The medal itself comes in gold, silver, or bronze finish, so it works for first, second, and third place and participation awards, and you can order all three in the same design for a cohesive set. It's clean, classic, affordable and professional, the kind of medal that photographs well and looks great hanging from a neck ribbon.
Speaking of which, let’s talk about that ribbon.
The Satin Neck Ribbon: More Important Than You Think
Here's something a lot of event organizers overlook until the moment, they're handing out awards: the neck ribbon is half the visual impact of any medal. When someone holds their award up for a photo or wears it on the walk back to the car, or hangs it on their wall at home, the ribbon is right there alongside the medal. It's part of the memory.
The custom GFL medal comes attached to your choice of neck ribbon, from grosgrain, stock or custom millennium, premium satin neck ribbon or drape in your choice of color. But let’s talk about our favorite neck ribbon, premium satin neck ribbons. You can keep it clean and simple with an unprinted ribbon, or you can go for a printed ribbon with your event name, organization, divisions, titles, classes or any text you choose, up to 3 lines of text with 30 characters per line, printed on the left-hand side of the ribbon.
And here's a detail that matters a lot for a few specific communities we serve ribbon length.
For most events, our standard 30" ribbon is the right call. But if you're organizing an equestrian event or any event where medals will be placed over a riding helmet or practice helmet, we strongly recommend upgrading to the 35" ribbon. That extra five inches makes all the difference in how the medal drapes and hangs over a helmet. We know the awards world well, we’ve been serving horse shows, cycling and many other sports for over 100 years, and this is one of those small details that show managers and organizers really appreciate.
The GFL Medal Does It All
Part of what makes the GFL medal our most versatile medal is that it genuinely works across every single market we serve. Here's a quick tour:
Running Races:
A custom center logo with your race name on the ribbon is an instant finisher medal upgrade. Runners notice, and they share. Your medal showing up on social media is free marketing for next year's event.
Gymnastics, Dance & Cheer:
Customize ribbon colors to match your team or event, add print with the event name and level, and you've got a completely personalized package for each division. Athletes love it.
Swim Meets
Satin holds up beautifully in humid pool environments, and a custom swim-themed center insert makes a medal that any swimmer would be proud to display.
Schools & Academic Events:
The GFL medal is a great fit for spelling bees, science fairs, music festivals, academic decathlons, and honor society recognitions. Add the optional back print with the student's name or grade level for an extra special touch.
Horse Shows & Equestrian Events:
Order with the 35" ribbon for over-helmet awards, pair with our rosettes and sashes, and your awards table will look like it belongs at a rated show. We've been trusted by horse show managers nationwide for generations, and the GFL medal is a staple in equestrian award programs.
Dog Shows:
A breed logo or club emblem in the center, show name and date on the ribbon, clean, professional, and exactly what the dog show community expects. And since we also make ribbons and rosettes, you can order your full awards package right here.
County Fairs & 4-H Competitions:
The GFL medal's per-unit pricing makes it one of the most budget-friendly ways to award across multiple categories at a large fair. You can use one medal design with different ribbon colors to distinguish between livestock, baked goods, arts, and more, without managing a dozen different SKUs.
Festivals & Community Events:
Stock center designs mean you don't need to have a logo or custom artwork ready. Just pick a design that fits your event's theme, add your event information, choose your ribbon color, and you're good to go.
Corporate & Employee Recognition:
Personalize medals with the recipient's name or years of service. A custom insert medal is a step above a certificate, and it's exactly the right level of recognition.
How to Order — It's Easier Than You Think
We've designed the ordering process to be as straightforward as possible, and our team is here every step of the way.
- Step 1 - Pick your finish. Gold, Silver, or Bronze. Or all three if you're doing placement awards.
- Step 2 - Choose your center insert. Pick a stock design or upload your custom logo or artwork. Not sure your file is the right format? Just send it, our design team will let you know.
- Step 3 - Select your ribbon. Choose your neck ribbon and color. If a satin neck ribbon, select your length (30" or 35") and decide if you want it to be printed or unprinted.
- Step 4 - Add back print if you want it. Just $0.50 per medal for 4 lines of personalized text on the back.
- Step 5 - Submit and approve. We'll review your order, confirm your artwork, and send digital proof. Once you approve, we get to work.
It really is that simple. And if you have questions at any step, our team is reachable by phone and email, no automated runaround, just real people who know awards inside and out.
Gold, Silver & Bronze Medal Finish
Stock or Custom Design
Grosgrain, Satin or Stock Millennium Neck Ribbon
Why Hodges Badge?
We've been making awards in the US since 1920. That's over 100 years of horse shows and dog shows, county fairs and running races, school gymnasiums and swimming pools. We've seen every kind of event and every kind of need, and we've built our product line around making it easy for you to give participants something they'll treasure.
The GFL medal is a perfect example of that philosophy. It's accessible, versatile, beautiful and affordable. It works whether you're ordering 50 medals for a small community event or 10,000 finisher medals for a major race. And it comes from a company with over 6,000 five-star reviews and a reputation that's been earned one award at a time.
Ready to build your awards program? Let's talk.
FAQs
What is the GFL Award Medal?
The GFL Award Medal is a 2-5/8" custom insert medal exclusive to Hodges Badge. It features a 2" recessed center insert area for custom artwork, logos, or stock designs, along with your choice of neck ribbon and medal finish.
What finishes are available for the GFL medal?
The GFL medal is available in Gold, Silver, and Bronze finishes. Many event organizers order all three for first, second, and third place awards.
Can I customize the center insert on the medal?
Yes. You can upload your own logo, event artwork, or choose from stock insert designs offered by Hodges Badge. The custom insert gives the medal a professional, personalized appearance without the cost or lead time of fully custom cast medals.
