diff --git a/src/app/(admin)/admin/awards/[id]/page.tsx b/src/app/(admin)/admin/awards/[id]/page.tsx
index 69a524e..65b8dfe 100644
--- a/src/app/(admin)/admin/awards/[id]/page.tsx
+++ b/src/app/(admin)/admin/awards/[id]/page.tsx
@@ -718,7 +718,7 @@ export default function AwardDetailPage({
                 open={notifyDialogOpen}
                 onOpenChange={setNotifyDialogOpen}
                 title="Notify Eligible Projects"
-                description={`Send "Selected for ${award.name}" emails to all ${award.eligibleCount} eligible projects.`}
+                description={`Send "Under consideration for ${award.name}" emails to all ${award.eligibleCount} eligible projects.`}
                 recipientCount={notifyPreview.data?.recipientCount ?? 0}
                 previewHtml={notifyPreview.data?.html}
                 isPreviewLoading={notifyPreview.isLoading}
diff --git a/src/lib/email.ts b/src/lib/email.ts
index aee5d38..e007feb 100644
--- a/src/lib/email.ts
+++ b/src/lib/email.ts
@@ -1808,7 +1808,7 @@ Together for a healthier ocean.
 }
 
 /**
- * Generate "Selected for Special Award" notification email template
+ * Generate "Under Consideration for Special Award" notification email template
  */
 export function getAwardSelectionNotificationTemplate(
   name: string,
@@ -1819,12 +1819,12 @@ export function getAwardSelectionNotificationTemplate(
 ): EmailTemplate {
   const greeting = name ? `Dear ${name},` : 'Dear Applicant,'
 
-  const celebrationBanner = `
+  const announcementBanner = `
 <table role="presentation" width="100%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0" style="margin: 20px 0;">
   <tr>
-    <td style="background: linear-gradient(135deg, #d97706 0%, #f59e0b 100%); border-radius: 12px; padding: 24px; text-align: center;">
-      <p style="color: #ffffff; margin: 0 0 8px 0; font-size: 14px; font-weight: 600; text-transform: uppercase; letter-spacing: 2px;">Congratulations</p>
-      <h2 style="color: #ffffff; margin: 0; font-size: 24px; font-weight: 700;">Your project has been selected!</h2>
+    <td style="background: linear-gradient(135deg, ${BRAND.darkBlue} 0%, ${BRAND.teal} 100%); border-radius: 12px; padding: 24px; text-align: center;">
+      <p style="color: #ffffff; margin: 0 0 8px 0; font-size: 14px; font-weight: 600; text-transform: uppercase; letter-spacing: 2px;">Special Award Consideration</p>
+      <h2 style="color: #ffffff; margin: 0; font-size: 24px; font-weight: 700;">Your project is under consideration</h2>
     </td>
   </tr>
 </table>
@@ -1840,8 +1840,9 @@ export function getAwardSelectionNotificationTemplate(
 
   const content = `
     ${sectionTitle(greeting)}
-    ${celebrationBanner}
-    ${infoBox(`<strong>"${projectName}"</strong> has been selected for the <strong>${awardName}</strong>`, 'success')}
+    ${announcementBanner}
+    ${infoBox(`<strong>"${projectName}"</strong> has been shortlisted for consideration for the <strong>${awardName}</strong>.`, 'info')}
+    ${paragraph('This means your project has caught the attention of our selection committee and is being evaluated for this special recognition. Please note that this is not a final award — further review and evaluation steps may follow.')}
     ${
       escapedMessage
         ? `<div style="background-color: #f5f5f5; border-radius: 8px; padding: 20px; margin: 20px 0; color: ${BRAND.textDark}; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.7;">${escapedMessage}</div>`
@@ -1853,16 +1854,18 @@ export function getAwardSelectionNotificationTemplate(
   `
 
   return {
-    subject: `Your project has been selected for ${awardName}: "${projectName}"`,
+    subject: `Your project is under consideration for ${awardName}: "${projectName}"`,
     html: getEmailWrapper(content),
     text: `
 ${greeting}
 
-Your project has been selected!
+Your project is under consideration for a special award.
 
 Project: ${projectName}
 Award: ${awardName}
 
+Your project has been shortlisted for consideration for the ${awardName}. This means your project has caught the attention of our selection committee and is being evaluated for this special recognition. Please note that this is not a final award — further review and evaluation steps may follow.
+
 ${customMessage || 'Our team will be in touch with more details about this award and next steps.'}
 
 ${accountUrl
diff --git a/src/server/routers/specialAward.ts b/src/server/routers/specialAward.ts
index 75dfb7b..d1816cb 100644
--- a/src/server/routers/specialAward.ts
+++ b/src/server/routers/specialAward.ts
@@ -1347,7 +1347,7 @@ export const specialAwardRouter = router({
               recipient.name || '',
               'AWARD_SELECTION_NOTIFICATION',
               {
-                title: `Selected for ${award.name}`,
+                title: `Under consideration for ${award.name}`,
                 message: input.customMessage || '',
                 metadata: {
                   projectName: e.project.title,