Star Council Award Information and Status

Star Council Award Resources

Star Council Team Members 

· David Zeigler (Laura) – Director; 903-926-0776, Texas State Council Knights of Columbus Star Council Director El Paso & Laredo Diocese 

Star Council Award

Understanding the Star Council Award: The Pinnacle of Fraternal Excellence

The Star Council Award represents the highest honor a Knights of Columbus council can achieve each fraternal year. It is a prestigious recognition of a council's outstanding dedication to the core pillars of our Order: membership growth, the promotion of our fraternal insurance benefits, and impactful charitable programming. Achieving this award is a testament to a council's vibrant faith in action and its commitment to leaving a lasting, positive impact on the parish and local community.

To earn the coveted Star Council status, a council must successfully fulfill a series of benchmark achievements, which include qualifying for three foundational sub-awards:

The Father McGivney Award: Recognizes excellence in membership recruitment and growth.

The Founders’ Award: Honors a council's success in promoting Blessed Michael McGivney’s vision of financial protection through our fraternal insurance programs.

The Columbian Award: Celebrates outstanding implementation of Faith in Action programs across our four key categories: Faith, Family, Community, and Life.

In addition to these foundational awards, essential administrative diligence is required. Councils must submit both the Annual Survey of Fraternal Activity (#1728) and the Service Program Personnel Report (#365). Furthermore, to ensure the safety and integrity of our communities, all councils within the United States and Canada must remain fully compliant with all applicable Safe Environment requirements.

As we approach the end of the fraternal year on June 30, council officers are strongly encouraged to regularly monitor their progress. You can easily track your council's quotas and award milestones by logging into the Officers Online portal. By staying proactive and collaborative, your council can ensure all requirements are met in time to be celebrated for its exceptional service and fraternal excellence.

Columbian Award

Understanding the Columbian Award: A Blueprint for Council Excellence

The Columbian Award serves as a testament to a council's vibrant faith, dedication to service, and commitment to fraternal charity. This prestigious honor recognizes excellence in your council’s programming and charitable outreach, celebrating the profound impact your brother Knights make within the parish and the broader community. It is not merely a trophy, but a reflection of a healthy, active council answering the call to serve.

To earn this distinction, councils must demonstrate a balanced and robust calendar of service across the four core pillars of our Faith in Action model: Faith, Family, Community, and Life.

Award Requirements at a Glance

Achieving the Columbian Award requires deliberate planning and consistent reporting. Councils must earn a total of 16 program credits, evenly distributed across the four program categories.

• https://www.kofc.org/what-we-do/programs/family/family-fully-alive/

• No specific programs are mandatory, allowing councils the pastoral flexibility to meet the unique needs of their own communities.

• Virtual and hybrid events are fully embraced. Remote programs count in the exact same manner as traditional, in-person events. However, please note that hybrid events (combining both in-person and virtual elements) should only be counted once.

• Submission Deadline: A completed Columbian Award Application (#SP-7) must be received by the Supreme Council office by June 30.

Maximize Impact with Featured Programs

While councils have total freedom in selecting their activities, the Supreme Council highlights specific Featured Programs that represent the pinnacle of our charitable mission. Conducting a Featured Program and satisfying its requirements is highly encouraged, as it rewards your council with two (2) credits toward that specific category on the #SP-7 application—effectively doubling your impact toward the award.

The eligible Featured Programs for each category are organized below:

Faith – Refund Support Vocation Program (RSVP), Pilgrim Icon Program, Spiritual Reflection, Into the Breach

Family – Food for Families, Family of the Month, Family Prayer Night, Family Fully Alive

Community – Coats for Kids, Disaster Preparedness, Global Wheelchair Mission, Free Throw Championship

Life – March for Life, Special Olympics, Mass for People with Special Needs, Pregnancy Center Support (includes Aid and Support After Pregnancy – ASAP)

Grand Knights & Program Directors: Use this framework as a strategic curriculum for your fraternal year. By alignment with these core pillars, your council will not only achieve recognition but will more deeply engage your parish and foster a culture of active discipleship.

Click here to see example of approved #SP-7 application

Father McGivney Award

The Father McGivney Award recognizes councils that demonstrate outstanding commitment to the growth and vitality of our Order. Named in honor of our blessed founder, this prestigious accolade celebrates your council's success in inviting more Catholic men to join us in faith and charity.

Award Criteria & Eligibility

To earn this award, your council must meet or exceed its yearly membership intake quota.

• The Quota: A 6% increase in your council's total membership as of July 1.

• The Parameters: The quota applies to intake only, with a minimum requirement of five (5) new members and a maximum cap of fifteen (15).

• Tracking Your Goal: Your council's specific quota is readily available under the Membership tab within Officers Online.

No Application Required: Eligibility is automatically determined by the Supreme Council based on your year-end growth data.

Reaching Higher: Double & Triple Star Recognition

For councils that go above and beyond in their recruitment efforts, the Supreme Council offers premier designations for exceptional growth in tandem with overall excellence.

• Double Star Council Award: Earned by councils that achieve Star Council status AND reach 200 percent of their membership gain goal.

• Triple Star Council Award: Earned by councils that achieve Star Council status AND reach 300 percent of their membership gain goal.

Thank you for your dedicated leadership and your continued efforts to strengthen your council, your parish, and our brotherhood.

Founders' Award

The Founders’ Award recognizes councils that demonstrate outstanding excellence in promoting our Order’s exceptional insurance and fraternal benefits. Securing this honor is a testament to your council's commitment to the financial well-being of our brother Knights and their families.

To qualify for the Founders' Award, every council must host or promote at least two Fraternal Benefit Events during the fraternal year.

Attendance Requirements

To receive credit, these events must meet a minimum attendance threshold of members or member-eligible men. The requirements are scaled by council size:

Council Membership Size Required Total Attendance (Sum of both events)

99 or fewer members 10 or more attendees

100 or more members 14 or more attendees

Lone Star Awards

Texas offers additional awards for excellence beyond Star Council:

• Lone Star Award for Excellence: Meet Star Council criteria, submit Form 185 by July 1, pay State Per Capita by March 1, meet State Charity Goal by June 30, and have at least one delegate at the State Convention.

• Lone Star Award for Excellence with Distinction: Meet Star Council criteria with additional requirements, such as safe environment compliance, participating in an FBE, and submitting Special Olympics Form 10784 by January 31.