ACWORTH - After months of preparation and a performance in front of 10 judges in Missouri, Acworth was named a 2010 All-America City on Friday night by the National Civic League.

Mayor Tommy Allegood said the award validates what Acworth residents knew all along - that their city is the "most giving city in the nation."

"Many of the things we already know, but now the entire nation knows," Allegood said. "We're just beyond excited."

Forty-two Acworth delegates made the trip to Kansas City, Mo., on Wednesday to convince a panel of judges that Acworth should join the list of only 10 2010 All-America Cities. The city was chosen as one of 27 finalists for the award in April, and each finalist was required to travel to Kansas City to make their pitch.

"I think speaking for everyone, all of the Kansas City delegation members, we felt like we had already won because we were so happy and proud of our presentation. It showcased the very best things our community offers to its residents and we're the best community in the nation, we have no doubt," Allegood said.

The NCL competition required applicants to show three community projects that address local challenges. Acworth chose the Horizon Field, which is the baseball and softball field specially designed to serve children with special needs; the Expanding Horizons Program, which uses local donations to fund educational trips for students who rarely, if ever, get to travel outside city limits; and the Acworth Achievers After School and Mentoring Program, which offers after-school opportunities for students.

Allegood said he and his city's delegation members have received numerous compliments from other cities on their moving presentation.

He also said it was a "wonderful experience" seeing what other cities were doing to improve their communities.

"We watched a lot of presentations, and one of the best was Mount Pleasant, South Carolina. Theirs was very good, and we were really impressed with everyone. But we knew we did really well and anticipated we were going to be one of the winners," Allegood said.

Community and business leaders raised $35,000 to send the 42 delegates - made up of students, parents, religious leaders, the mayor and city officials - on the trip so that they could all be a part of the presentation. Allegood said his community's efforts to send so many people did not go unrecognized.

"We've been told we're the loudest and most enthusiastic group here. And you better believe we're going to continue to make a lot of noise," Allegood said with a laugh.

The city of Marietta, which won the award in 2006, wished Acworth luck on its website this week.

Acworth also won the video presentation competition, which was open to any city, finalist or not, and was voted on by viewers through the Web.