The Major-General W.A. Howard Award is presented annually to the cadet in each province and territory that receives the highest overall assessment on the National Star Certification Exam (NSCE) .
Major-General W.A. Howard, CMM, CM, CD, QC, Colonel Commandant Royal Canadian Army Cadets from 1974 to 1979, as a legacy to his desire to promote excellence on the NSCE, combined with an assessment of a cadet's overall performance, has established these annual awards for outstanding cadets.
Recipients of the award are selected from the top three candidates in each province and territory who have scored highest on the NSCE exam, written during the current year and according to the following criteria:

1. length of time as a cadet;
2. conduct;
3. contribution to corps activities including the community;
4. peer relationship;
5. standing on NSCE
6. results of career courses; and
7. academic rating
It is recommended that the winner achieve a standing of at least 90% on the first attempt at the NSCE and that he/she have successfully completed both the CL and CLI summer courses The awards are administered by the National Office of the Army Cadet League of Canada.

DESCRIPTION
This bronze circular medal has the bust of Major General Howard on the obverse looking left. He is wearing his Canadian Forces General Officer's hat. Around the top edge are the words MAJOR GENERAL W.A. HOWARD, CMM CM CD with four over-lapping maple leaves before and after the name.

RIBBON
The left half of the ribbon is scarlet; the right half is green

Initially this award was accompanied by a plaque, since 1985 a medal has been awarded to the cadet.