The AOS Great Plains Judging Center was established in Oklahoma City, OK, in 1980 to judge orchids and award AOS Awards. It is one of 26 Centers in the AOS’s judging system. Judging is held at Southwestern College — Beech Science Center, 100 N College St., Winfield, KS, at 10:00 am on the third Saturday of each month, unless otherwise announced. For specific information about a given month’s GPJC judging event, click on the item in the “Upcoming Meeting & Events” widget at the right or bottom of this page.

All orchid enthusiasts are encouraged to submit orchids for judging by taking them to the GPJC the morning before judging begins or by making arrangements with one of OOS’s AOS judges to take the orchids to judging. Members should download and complete the “Judging Entry Form” for each orchid submitted.

Orchid plants and cut flowers submitted at a monthly GPJC judging event or AOS-sanctioned show are candidates for an award. The GPJC’s most recent month’s AOS Awards are posted in the “Recent OOS Posts” widget at the right or bottom of this page. For a full list of GPJC’s AOS Awards by month see the GPJC Recent AOS Awards page.

AOS Awards

Awarded to Orchid Species or Hybrids

HCC – Highly Commended Certificate (75–79 points)
AM – Award of Merit (80–89 points)
FCC – First Class Certificate (90–100 points)
JC – Judges’ Commendation
CBR – Certificate of Botanical Recognition
CHM – Certificate of Horticultural Merit

Awarded Once to a Cross

AD – Award of Distinction
AQ – Award of Quality

Awarded to the Exhibitor

CCM – Certificate of Cultural Merit (80–89 points)
CCE – Certificate of Cultural Excellence (90–100 points)

To learn more about AOS judging, see AOS Awards & Judging webpage.


Phrag. Glowing Embers ‘Autumn Glow’

The name of the genus Phragmipedium (frag-meh-PEE-dee-um), abbreviated Phrag., is derived from the Greek phragma, which means “division”, and pedium, which means “slipper,” in reference to the pouch. Phragmipedium and Paphiopedilum are commonly called “slipper orchids.”

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