blue-ribbon vs select

blue-ribbon and select both are adjectives.

Word	Noun	Adjective	Verb	Adverb
blue-ribbon	No	Yes	No	No
select	No	Yes	Yes	No

As adjectives, blue-ribbon and select are synonyms defined as:

blue-ribbon (adjective)	select (adjective)
selected or chosen for special qualifications	selected or chosen for special qualifications
	of superior grade

blue-ribbon (verb)	select (verb)
	pick out, select, or choose from a number of alternatives