The logical thing is that glyphs activates when entering the portal between the levels.

Do the heroes receive awards such as CQ-tokens and featcards for this?

Logical doesn't always work in Descent.

The Glyphs do not activate unless the party gets a member next to them. If they decide not to go activate the glyph before leaving, then they do not get any CQ for it.

That's true, the glyphs on the dungeon level start out un-activated and remain that way until a hero steps on top of them. The only exception is the one glyph near the entrance to the dungeon, which DOES start out activated, and all the heroes start on or next to it. Even though this glyph starts with its active side up, it is not considered to have been "activated" by the heroes. Therefore the heroes do not recieve any reward for the first glyph of each level (i.e. the already active glyph they start next to).

+1 to Kartigan. The starting glyph on each level begins active and provides no reward. If you want logic (something you can't always have in Descent) then tell yourself it was already active because the portal is working. It's as good a reason as any.