Clout award

An award typically in an academic or work setting, that is granted to the most inoffensive candidate. In contrast to a typical award that is given to the most qualified candidate. Or to a candidate that better fits a predefined quota (hint: minorities). Or to the candidate who is willing to pay a fee (hint: scams).
Clout award's usually have no inherit value, due to having no real standards. On the surface they may appear to be prestigious, but behind the smoke and mirrors they mean squat.

They're the middle child of meaningless awards, with the younger being participation medals and the older being a Nobel peace prize.

"Why did Shaniqua, of all people in our Comp Sci class get the STEM nomination?" -Hwong Too
"It's not actually worth anything, it's just a (clout award)." -Johannes Schmidt