Why are there so many awards in academia in the US compared with academia in France?

I spent a bit of time in France and in the USA. I observed that there are many more awards given to students and academics in the US than there are in France. Is that observation correct, and if so what accounts for it?

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Examples:

Grade awards in the US:

• University of Chicago Student Marshal


• Dean’s List

Student research awards in the US:

• Charles W. and Jennifer C. Johnson Prize


• Jin Au Kong Thesis Award


• George M. Sprowls PhD thesis award


• William A. Martin Memorial Master's Thesis Award

Teaching awards in the US:

• MIT Inspirational Teacher Award


• Everett Moore Baker Memorial Award


• Gordon Y Billard Award


• Graduate Student Council Teaching Awards