This is the 5109th most frequent Russian word.
награждать
To reward or to award.
In this sentence, 'наградил' (rewarded) represents an action of giving an acknowledgment or prize for accomplishments.
Учитель наградил учеников за их успехи в учёбе.
The teacher rewarded the students for their academic achievements.
Here, 'награждает' (rewards) signifies the act of an official entity giving recognition or honors to individuals.
Государство награждает выдающихся граждан за их вклад в общество.
The government rewards distinguished citizens for their contribution to society.
In this context, 'наградил' (rewarded) metaphorically denotes giving appreciation or gratitude expressed through a gesture.