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PenSPRA Communicator of the Year Award

For questions regarding your submission or the contest, please contact:  penspra@cciu.org

SUBMIT YOUR ENTRIES

About the Award: 

The PenSPRA Communicator of the Year Award recognizes the exemplary leadership of school public relations professionals in Pennsylvania. These professionals demonstrate commitment to the enhancement of communication and relationships between schools and the students, families and communities they serve. The award honors those who acknowledge that communication is a critical component of leadership.  The submission deadline is Tuesday, February 25, 2025.

The winner will receive a $500 stipend to use for the 2024-25 Symposium. 

The nominee:  

  • Demonstrates the use of effective public relations strategies to support education. 

  • Is recognized as an advocate for education and has earned a reputation as being highly credible with a variety of audiences.

  • Demonstrates exceptional leadership and communication skills.  

  • Demonstrates experience and involvement in communicating with diverse audiences.  

  • Implements communication strategies that demonstrate strategic thinking, which contributes to the betterment of education.  

  • Demonstrates effective personal communication with a wide variety of audiences.

  • Demonstrates ethics and professionalism in communication.  

  • Has been recognized as a role model for communicators and non-communicators alike, and is someone whose communication skills and messages have impacted the lives of others.  

  • Has served in a school communications role for at least five (5) years.  

  • Is a current PenSPRA member. 

To nominate someone: 

1. Include a narrative, no longer than 500 words, outlining how the person has met the award’s criteria.  

2. The submission may also include up to five (5) pages of supporting documentation including, but not limited to, data demonstrating the nominee’s effectiveness in meeting the award criteria, samples of the nominee’s communications work, measures of effectiveness and letters of support.  

There is no fee to nominate someone for the PenSPRA Communicator of the Year Award. 

PenSPRA Key Communicator Award

About the Award:  

The PenSPRA Key Communicator Award honors an education professional who has successfully contributed to the field of school communications. The recipient may be a legislator, superintendent or professional in any field who has improved school communications or a member of PenSPRA who has contributed outstanding service to the profession of school communications. The recipient does not need to be a PenSPRA member. The submission deadline is Tuesday, February 25, 2025.

The winner will receive a FREE PenSPRA membership for one (1) year. 

To nominate someone, you must include: 

  • A one-page PDF document detailing why you think this individual is worthy of the Key Communicator Award  

  • A one-page bio of the nominee  

  • Three (3) letters of support for the nominee 

There is no fee to nominate someone for the PenSPRA Key Communicator Award.  


Excellence in Education Communications Contest

Each year, PenSPRA provides an opportunity for school district communication professionals to be recognized in the annual Excellence in Education Communications Contest. 

Entries are accepted in a number of categories to reflect the scope of work undertaken by communications professionals. 

Click to view winners from the 2023 contest!

The 2024 contest categories are:

  • Annual Report: Published yearly to summarize goals, activities, and achievements. Submit ONE report per entry.

  • Branding/Image Package: Materials designed to promote the district brand (e.g., logos, taglines, etc.). Multiple assets may be submitted to demonstrate the brand identity.  Entry should include an image file of the brand identity (logo, tagline, etc.) as well as at least one example of the brand identity in use (e.g., website homepage, brochure, letterhead, business card, email signature, building signage, etc.).

  • Calendar: Publication (digital or print) with general information and specific dates for school/district activities and events. Submit ONE calendar per entry.

  • Excellence in Writing: One article from a newsletter, newspaper op-ed piece, website, editorial or speech. Length of 500 to 5,000 words. Submit only the relevant article, not an entire publication. Submit ONE article per entry

  • Finance Publication: Information about tax levies, bond issues, budgets and other financial topics. Submit ONE publication per entry.

    •

  • Handbook/Guide: General information about policies, regulations and/or other official guidance, issued to students, parents and/or staff. Submit ONE publication per entry.

  • Infographic: Graphic images used to represent complex information or data in a quick, impactful way. Submit ONE infographic per entry.

  • Magazine: Periodic publication with news articles, feature articles, photos, and/or more. Print or digital. Submit ONE issue per entry.

  • Marketing Material: Material created to promote/sell a school or district product, program, or service to stakeholders. Submit ONE asset per entry.

  • News Release: Singular news or media release. Submit ONE release per entry.

  • Newsletter: External or internal, published periodically. TWO different issues of the newsletter must be submitted to qualify as one entry. Links to additional issues may be submitted, but are optional. Print or digital.

  • Photography: An image that effectively tells a story, captures significant moments or conveys the ethos of a school community. Submit ONE photo per entry.

  • Podcast: School or district podcast episode. Submit ONE podcast per entry.

  • Social Media: Social media communication campaign or collection of posts that effectively use social media for awareness, fundraising, enrollment drives, or other strategic objectives. Upload a one-page explanation that includes the following: overview/purpose of the campaign/posts; links to the social media content; relevant analytics that demonstrate the level of engagement with the social media content; and description of the outcomes achieved.

  • Special Purpose Publication: External or internal booklet, brochure, poster or material not included in other categories. Submit ONE publication per entry.

  • Video (singular): A video recording or live broadcast designed for a website, social media, video channel, special event, etc. Video can be submitted as MP4 files, but if the file size is larger than 25MB, provide a link to the video from a website, YouTube, Vimeo, Google Drive, etc. Submit ONE video per entry.

  • Video (series): A video series designed for a website, social media, video channel, special event, etc. Videos can be submitted as a MP4 file, but if the file size is larger than 25MB, provide a link to the video from a website, YouTube, Vimeo, Google Drive, etc. Submit UP TO five videos per entry.

  • Website: Existing website if not previously entered in an NSPRA awards program, website redesign project, special purpose or short-term project website. Intranet website entries must include password or other login information so judges can access the site. Submit ONE website per entry.

  • Gold Medallion: PenSPRA's Gold Medallion Award is a highly competitive award that recognizes superior school public relations programs and campaigns grounded in strategic communication best practices. The following programs/projects/campaigns are eligible for entry: 
  • Bond/Finance Campaign
  • Comprehensive, Strategic, Year-round Communication Program
  • Marketing Communication Campaign
  • Public Engagement/Parental Involvement Campaign
  • Special Communication Project/Campaign

Gold Medallion entries must be submitted as a single PDF file. The total award entry, including entry form and all application materials, is limited to no more than 26 pages (packaged in a single PDF). An entry must include: 

  • Cover page with entry information (page max = 1: Include entrant's name and title, district/organization name, address, phone, email, title of entry, entry category, number of communication staff, size/type of district or organization.) Do not exceed one page in length. 

  • Synopsis of the program/project/campaign: Provides a clear, concise overview of the program/project/campaign. Do not exceed 350 words. 

  • Summary of the program/project/campaign: Summarize the program/project/campaign by demonstrating how it followed the four-step strategic public relations planning process of research, planning, implementation and evaluation (RPIE). Include hyperlinks to any key support materials (websites, videos, social media, PDFs, etc.). Do not exceed six (6) pages. 

An entry may include: 

  • Additional support material demonstrating the RPIE strategic planning process may be included but may not cause the entry to exceed the 26 page total. Samples, brief synopses or links to support materials are sufficient (e.g., no need to include complete survey results or reports) 

Example format for entry: 

  • Page 1: Cover page with entry information 

  • Page 2: Synopsis of program/campaign 

  • Pages 3-8: Summary of program campaign 

  • Marketing Communication Campaign 

  • Public Engagement/Parental Involvement Campaign 

  • Pages 9-26: Additional support material 

    Eligibility

    The contest is open to all school public relations professionals in Pennsylvania. Materials must have been produced between January 1, 2024, and December 31, 2024.

    Judging

    Judging is conducted by a panel of independent professionals who can provide contestants with feedback upon request after the contest has concluded.

    How to Enter

    Contestants upload their content files or links through a submission form (coming soon!). If your printed publication is not available as a digital file, you may still enter by mailing two copies to: PenSPRA Communications Contest, c/o Chester County Intermediate Unit, 455 Boot Road, Downingtown, PA 19335. Entries must be uploaded and/or postmarked by Friday, January 17, 2025.

    Entry Fees and Payment

    • PenSPRA Member Fee: Initial entry fee is $50; each additional entry fee is $20
    • Non-Member Entry Fee: Initial entry fee is $50; each additional entry fee is $50

    Awards

    • Award of Excellence will be given to the top entries in each category.
    • Award of Honor will be given to those entries that deserve special recognition in each category.
    • Award of Merit will be given to those entries that deserve special recognition in each category.

    Contest winners will be notified by an email notification.


    c/o Chester County Intermediate Unit

    Downingtown, PA 19335

    Phone: 484-237-5171

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