Introduce ability to award manual points for engaged users

As a part of our Q3 goals - we’re looking to make a massive revamp to our gamification features on the platform. 

Currently, it’s only been the points leaderboard and system that has been utilised over many years and we have a few super engaged super users that have racked up some seriously impressive level of points. I fear to such a degree it would demotivate newer users from bothering to engage. 

As we look to introduce new badge and rank options it would be great to be able to provide a manual method to be able to award users with points on our platform - something to give them an edge via the current points leaderboards and also recognise them for the amazing contributions they’ve provided the community at the same time. 

As we know, there are only 5 possible ways for a user to gain points generically. 

Is this something others have raised or thought about before? Do people agree that there should be a manual function to be able to offer this sort of award as a part of the wider gamification models?