STAR COUNCIL AWARD
The Star Council Award is the highest Supreme Award earned by councils for outstanding achievement in the areas of membership, insurance, safe environment, and service program activities. The Star Council Award is a unit of measure for successful councils. It is a positive health check point that the council has growth in membership, focuses on insurance programs, compliant with Safe Environment, and commitment to a variety of programs in the areas of Faith, Family, Community and Life.
All Councils begin every fraternal year as Star Council. With proper planning and leadership, every council can maintain that status all year long.
To earn the Star Council Award:
Earn the Father McGivney Award for membership growth by June 30. The council quota can be found on the Membership tab in Officers Online. There is no application to complete for the Father McGivney Award, as the Supreme Council automatically determines eligibility. Goals are set at 6% growth with a minimum of 5 and maximum of 15.
Earn the Founder’s Award for insurance growth by June 30. The Founders’ Award recognizes excellence in the promotion of our insurance and fraternal benefits. To earn this award, a number equal to 10% of Associate members on the July 1 council roster must meet individually with a field agent for a financial review (minimum of five and maximum of fifteen). A financial review with an insurance agent is a personalized check-in to evaluate your current financial protection, identify gaps or changes in your needs, and ensure your insurance and long-term financial strategies still align with your goals, family, and future plans.
Earn the Columbian Award for Faith in Action Programs (Form SP-7) by June 30.
Requirement 1 – Donate at least $500 as part of one of the following Faith in Action programs: ASAP, Food for Families, RSVP, or Coats for Kids.
Requirement 2 – Complete 4 Faith in Action programs, one in each of the following categories: Faith, Family, Community, Life. You cannot claim programs / activities already submitted for requirement 1.
To qualify as Faith in Action programs, the council must run programs similar to those described in the Faith in Action Guidelines.
Requirement 3 – Complete 3 programs / activities: one to bring men closer to Christ, one to build fraternity (strengthen the bonds of friendship between the men of your council and/or parish) and one to support your parish or community. These programs / activities can be unique to the council and do not need to be Faith in Action programs. You cannot claim programs / activities already submitted for requirements 2 and 3.
Conducting Cor satisfies all three of the program/activity criteria for requirement 3. Councils must implement and sustain Cor gatherings that feature prayer, formation, and fraternity at least once per month. To qualify, Cor must be implemented starting on or before April 1 with plans for long-term sustainability.
Cor may be held in conjunction with an additional men’s ministry and pull from non-KofC content.
For additional information on Cor and its structure, visit kofc.org/corleaders ,view the COR Startup Videos and COR Leader Guide and contact your State EFF Director.
If you choose this option, you must include the name and email address of your council Evangelization and Faith Formation (EFF) Director
The online application can be found at kofc.org/forms or by clicking on this link Online Columbian Award Application (#SP-7)
Note: June 30 is a hard deadline. You can submit the SP-7 as early as April 1st, Supreme will not accept this form after June 30. Submit the form early to verify the SP-7 will be accepted or if corrections need to be made.
Submit your Form 10784 for every activity after each activity and Supreme will have the additional information needed for the SP-7.
Have your Trustees use the SP-7 all year to keep up with your activities for easy submission later in the year. Only the Grand Knight, Financial Secretary, or the Program Director can submit the SP-7.
Complete and send the (4) required forms to Supreme and the Texas State Office.
Report of Officers (Form 185) is due by June 30th. Form can be complete at https://www.kofc.org/resources/officer-resources/administration/forms/185/
Service Program Personnel Report (Form 365) is due by June 30th. Form can be completed at: https://www.kofc.org/en/for-members/resources/forms/365.html
Submit the Annual Survey of Fraternal Activity (Form 1728) due by January 31st. Form can be completed here: 1728 Activity Survey Council
Submit the Annual Audit Form 1295, due by August 15th.
Forward the confirmation PDF copy to the Texas State Office. (forms@tkofc.org)
All forms in “PDF” format can be found at: https://www.kofc.org/en/for-members/resources/council-forms.html. However, on-line submission is preferred.
Use Member Management for the quickest results.
Safe Environment. Councils must be compliant with required training and background checks. All men in the following positions must complete the Safe Environment training modules within 30 days of receiving email from Supreme. Men in the Family or Community Director’s position must also provide authorization for a background check. The positions required for training are:
Grand Knight
Program Director
Family Director (background check required)
Community Director (background check required)
Columbian Squires Counselors (if applicable) (background check required)
Some positions also have access to the Praesidium Academy administration dashboard to view council compliance status. Once completed, training is good for three (3) years.
The Service Program Personal (Form 365) will be recorded as received when the following required roles have been appointed - Program Director, Community Director, Family Director, Membership Director, and Retention Chairman. The Grand Knight can hold one of the Director’s positions; however, (2) two other unique men must hold the other Director roles.
Accurate emails must be reported on Form 365. Praesidium will use these email addresses to send notifications to those men to complete Safe Environment training and to provide authorization for a background check. There should be no general email specific to council name, position, etc. - it must be a unique email address to the individual. The email the member will receive from Supreme will include their username and password to access the training website.
Safe Environment training can also be completed by those without Internet access. The Office of Youth Protection (OYP) can mail the training materials to a Knight. He then can read the training, complete the paperwork, and mail back in. Contact the OYP (info below) for more details.
The Star Tracker will provide training status as required to achieve 100% compliance. Grand Knights and District Deputies are expected to monitor these reports for Safe Environment Compliance for their councils. Grand Knights and District Deputies can also monitor progress in Officers Online. They should work to ensure that each council is 100% compliant as soon as reasonably possible.
Timeline is as follows:
Once Supreme receives the completed Form 365 an email will be sent to the men who need to complete training. Individuals will have 30 days to complete the training and provide background information. Those without Internet access need to contact OYP.
An email reminder will be sent in 2 weeks if not completed.
If not completed within 30 days, the director’s positions are automatically vacated by Supreme and another individual needs to be assigned.
Completing the online safe environment training modules shows commitment to protecting children and vulnerable members.
Recertification emails will be sent out 45 days prior to renewal date.
DIOCESAN SAFE ENVIRONMENT REQUIREMENTS ARE UNIQUE AND SEPERATE FROM THE KNIGHTS. BOTH MUST BE COMPLETED. PLEASE SEE THE INFORMATION IN THE FOLLOWING LINK: https://www.kofc.org/en/resources/safe-environment-program/safe-environment-trifold.pdf
Safe Environment Requirements can be found at https://www.kofc.org/en/safe-environment-program/index.html. All inquiries about the program should be directed to the Office of Youth Protection via email to youthleader@kofc.org or by phone to 203-800-4940.
Council must be current with Supreme Assessments (Per Capita) twice during the year; prior to October 10 based on July 1 Roster and April 10 based on January 1 Roster.
STAR DISTRICT AWARD
District Deputies are also recognized for excellence by Supreme. Criterion for this award is:
Meet 70% of the District Membership goal.
50% of the Councils achieve the Founder’s Award.
Submit District Deputy Report Form 944 for each of his councils prior to September 15.
Have at least two councils in the district earn Star Council.
Submit a District Deputy Annual Report on Council Status (944) for each council in district by September 15.
Every council in district must submit forms #185 (officers), 365 (directors), 1728 (annual survey) and #1295 (annual audit).
*Districts with one council are not eligible for Star District.
LONE STAR AWARDS
Texas also has awards above and beyond the Star Council Award: The Lone Star Award for Excellence and the Lone Star Award for Excellence with Distinction.
The requirements for the Lone Star Award for Excellence are:
Earn the Star Council Award
Recruit 120% of Membership Goal by June 30, 2027
Donate 110% of Charity Goal
Hold a Wheelchair Weekend to benefit the First Ladies Project, or Donate 10 Wheelchairs to the same project, Due 06/30
Online Submission of an EFF Director By March 15th, 2027
Safe Environment Compliant by December 31, 2026.
Report Special Olympics Activities between July 1, 2026 – June 30, 2027 - on
Form 10784 by June 30, 2027, https://www.kofc.org/en/forms/spa/invite.html?lang=en&form=10784C.02
Seat at least one delegate at the State Convention in Houston, April 23-25, 2027.
The requirements for the Lone Star Award for Excellence with Distinction are:
Earn the LSAFE
Recruit 130% of Membership Goal by June 30, 2027
Contribute 120% to State Charity Goal by June 30, 2027
Have an Active COR Program by April 1st, 2027
Submit at least one entry for a State Service Program Award, or the Chic O’ Connor Award, or the Family of the Year or Blessed Michael McGivney Award or Educational Grant by March 1, 2027.
Seat two delegates at the State Convention in Houston, April 23-25, 2027.
Each Archdiocese/Diocese has a goal of 50% plus 3 of all active councils within their diocese to become Star Council. Each Diocesan Deputy that meets/exceeds this goal will be recognized. Diocesan Deputies and District Deputies are asked to strive for two Star Councils per district.
AWARDS
Star District Incentive for District Deputies:
District Deputies who earn Star District, a minimum of two-star councils, will receive a Silver Jewel Medal which can be worn along with any other jewels they have earned.
All Star District Incentive for District Deputies:
District Deputies who earn All Star District, having a minimum of four-star councils, will receive a Gold Jewel Medal which can be worn along with any other jewels they have earned.
State Program Awards Including Family & Chaplain of the Year
Each council in the State is encouraged to submit an entry for these awards. The are 4 state program awards plus the Family of the Year and Chaplain of the Year. Information about each of these awards can be found in the Faith In Action Guide Book. The links to each of these awards is found below. These entries must be sent to the State Program Director, Chad Sandwell by 11:59pm March 1st, 2027. Any entry received after that time will not be considered.
State Program Awards Entry Form: Due Date March1st, 2027
Chaplain of the Year (Blessed McGivney Award Entry Form: Due Date March 1st, 2027
State Family of the Year Entry Form: Due Date March 1st, 2027
Email all entries to: Chad Sandwell, State Program Director
Any questions, feel free to call: 409.656.4284