Awards

Each year, the Louisiana School Public Relations Association accepts applications for Communicator of the Year. The winner of this state award will go on to compete at the national level for NSPRA’s Communicator of the Year. 

Below is information for the current year's awards process.

Deadline to Submit Entry

Jan. 24, 2025

Eligibility

To be eligible for the Louisiana School Public Relations Association (LASPRA) Communicator of the Year Award, candidates should be a current member of LASPRA, hold a professional membership in NSPRA, and plan to continue working in the profession.

Purpose of Award

This program is designed to recognize the outstanding leadership and contributions of active, front-line school communicators in Louisiana who work full-time in school districts or education service agencies. It is not designed to be a recognition of service at retirement.

Nomination Procedures

Complete the entry form, which will ask for the following information:

• A two-page summary of the qualifications and accomplishments of the individual with an emphasis on (but not limited to) Jan. 1, 2024 - Dec. 31, 2024, which addresses the judging criteria. 
• A one-page professional bio
• Nominations can only be submitted by members in our membership portal. 

Judging Criteria

Leadership (25 pts.)

Demonstrated leadership in successfully meeting the communication needs of their school system or educational service agency. Examples may include leading successful communication campaigns, overcoming an internal communication challenge or creating a robust strategic communication plan.

Communication (25 pts.)

Demonstrated strength in both personal and organizational communication. Preferably, the recipient has demonstrated the superb employment of each of the four components of the public relations planning process: research, planning, implementation, and evaluation. Examples may include evidence of persuasion, the power of engagement, influence in decision-making, and/or demonstrated the impact and outcomes of the project or program.

Professionalism (25 pts.)

Constant improvement of knowledge and skills, while providing professional development opportunities and mentoring to others. Examples may include achieving accreditation in public relations (APR), participating in NSPRA’s Mentor Match program or serving as a speaker at the chapter or national level.

Community Involvement (25 pts.)

Active participation in their local community activities and an understanding of regional, national, and international issues. Examples may include volunteering in their local community, organizing a fund-raising event for their community or writing an article that demonstrates broad knowledge of the complexities of public education.

Judging Procedures

All entries are reviewed and scored by another NSPRA chapter outside of Louisiana according to the judging criteria above. Each criteria section above is worth 25 points. The judging chapter must choose the person who scores 100 pts or the highest combined total for each section. Ties will not be accepted. The winner will be notified by Feb. 17 and invited to apply for NSPRA’s School Communicator of the Year Award (deadline: April 1, 2025).

Timeline

• Jan. 24, 2025 - Deadline to submit entry
• Feb. 17, 2025 - Winner Announced

Questions?

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