Rodimus Star

The Rodimus Star is an award from the IDW portion of the Generation 1 continuity family

Rodimus knows that you can't choose when fate decides to test your mettle. He could've ignored the urge to lead several Autobots on a quest to find the Knights of Cybertron. He could've turned his back on destiny and said "Go find another hero". However, for those who follow in his footsteps and rise to the occasion, he awards them with the Rodimus Star, a medal with his smiling face emblazoned on it.

The criteria for earning one is also ridiculously easy for the most part, and he hands them out like Energon goodies. Unfortunately, using one's natural abilities and just "being yourself" (and sometimes, the opposite) do not make one qualify for the award, making it difficult for some people to earn this award.

Fiction

IDW Generation 1 continuity

Rodimus awarded Chromedome, Brainstorm, and Highbrow (but conspicuously not Trailbreaker) for repairing a hull breach caused by fragment from Metroplex. Neither Tailgate nor Chromedome seemed dazzled with it, but Trailbreaker felt left out and under-appreciated for not getting one. Finding out that just about everyone on the ship including Whirl (who doodled over his) received one didn't make him feel any better. Even Swerve was promised one if he completed his sponsored silence. When Whirl and Trailbreaker confronted Rodimus about it, he blew them off, claiming he'd just be rewarding Trailbreaker for doing what he always does.

Eventually, Trailbreaker, now Trailcutter, received one for driving a pack of Titan Hunters off the Lost Light while everyone the ship was accidentally paralyzed by one of Brainstorm's pulse weapons. Unfortunately, Rodimus awarded everyone who was frozen, even Brainstorm, giant golden Rodimus crests "For exceptional endurance in the face of adversity", putting him back where he started. The Reluctant Specialist