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Golden Achievement Awards

 

Entry deadline: April 3, 2023 (winners will be notified in June 2023)
Fee per entry: $85 for members, $125 for non-members
All entries must be submitted at www.nspra.org/award-apply

 

Overview

 

NSPRA’s Golden Achievement Awards recognize outstanding, strategic work in all aspects of school public relations, communication, marketing and engagement. View a list of past Golden Achievement winners.

Winning entries are recognized nationally and receive awards at the NSPRA National Seminar each year. Entrants are encouraged to watch the How and Why of Award Submissions webinar for tips on evaluating what to submit and what the judges are looking for in an entry.

 

 

Submission Information

 

All Golden Achievement entries must be submitted ​at www.nspra.org/award-apply.

 

    What types of work are eligible for entry?
     

    There are no specific categories for entries in the Golden Achievement Awards contest, but following are examples of programs, projects, campaigns and activities to consider entering:

    • Community outreach and public engagement initiatives
    • Parent involvement campaigns/programs
    • Marketing/branding campaigns 
    • Bond/finance election campaigns
    • Internal communication programs
    • Staff and student recognition programs
    • School safety and wellness programs
    • Crisis communication and response
    • Customer service programs
    • Education advocacy programs/coalitions

    Programs/projects/campaigns must have been underway or completed between March 2022 and the contest deadline of April 3, 2023. 

     

     

    How should entries be organized?
     

    Golden Achievement Awards entries must be organized into a single PDF file. The entry is limited to no more than six pages in total (packaged in a single PDF).

    An entry must include:

    • Summary of the program/project/campaign (page max = 2) 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). Do not exceed two pages.  

    An entry may include:

    • Additional support materials demonstrating outstanding, strategic work as part of the program/project/campaign. Samples, brief synopses or hyperlinks to materials (websites, videos, social media, etc.) are sufficient. Do not cause the entry to exceed the 6 page total. 

    Review entries from the most recent Golden Achievement Awards winners before preparing your entry.

     

     

    How are entries judged?
     

    NSPRA uses as judges a variety of association members and public relations professionals who are experienced and award winning. Judges' identities are kept confidential.

    When reviewing Golden Achievement Awards entries, they judge each entry individually based on strategic communication best practices, good writing and alignment with entry guidelines. Judges score the entry against the following criteria:

    • Research  (25% of score) What evidence is there of careful analysis of the need for the program/project/campaign? Is there any primary or secondary research? Are there stated goals and measurable objectives?

    • Planning  (25% of score) What evidence is there of thoughtful planning to address the need for the program/project/campaign? Are strategies, tactics, target audiences, budgets, resources and staff responsibilities identified?  

    • Implementation  (25% of score) What evidence is there that strategies, tactics and activities were carried out as planned? 

    • Evaluation  (25% of score) What evidence is there that evaluation components were included in plan development and carried out to measure success in achieving desired outcomes? Are there any recommendations for future improvements or next steps? 

    Each entry will be judged individually against the contest criteria—not against other entries. Judges will select as many winners as meet the criteria. 

     

     

    How should an entry be submitted?
     

    Golden Achievement Awards entries must be submitted ​at www.nspra.org/award-apply.

    • Entry: Compile all entry materials into a single PDF document that is no more than six pages in total. Multiple support materials will not be accepted.
    • Fee: $85 per entry for members, $125 per entry for non-members
    • Deadline: Entries must be received by April 3, 2023.

     

     

    What happens after entries are judged?
     

    NSPRA staff will notify all Golden Achievement Awards entrants as to the status of their entries via email in June. 

    Winners will receive an award and be:

    View a list of past Golden Achievement Awards winners.

     

    Submissions are now closed