award, a ward

Award or award ( one word ) means to give as a prize; or as part of a judicial decree--
We will award the prize to the entry with the most votes.
The court may award damages to the plaintiff.

Award ( one word ) may also mean a prize won or earned--
He won an award for his essay on the environment.
The award this year will be a trophy and a gift certificate.

A ward or a ward ( two words ) means one ( a ) voting district of a city ( ward )--
Each council member represents a ward, but the mayor represents the whole city.
This was once a small town, but now it is a ward of the city.

A ward ( two words ) may also mean one ( a ) minor placed under someone's care ( ward )--
He will remain a ward of the court until he is an adult.
He had no children, but he had a ward, his brother's son.

A ward ( two words ) may also mean one ( a ) division of a hospital, or a part of a castle ( ward )--
They left a bequest to endow a ward of the new hospital.
The soldiers remained in a ward near the castle gate, until they heard the call to arms.

Now that you know that, you can say--
"While he was a ward of the court, he won an award for good behavior."