I am with you on that one...last night when BOR said “winner” I screamed at the TV he was an awardee or honoree, not a winner of some prize.
I know those calling them winners are not trying to demean them or deminish their service, it just sets me off when someone uses that term in the context of a heroic act.
I know I get a little persnickety sometimes about the “winner” thing, but I’ve written and processed awards at the Legion of Merit level and below. No where in any awards manual does the word “winner” appear.