Alabama School Public Relations Association Awards Program

Deadline: December 5, 2025

Each year, the Alabama School Public Relations Association (ALSPRA) honors school communication and public relations professionals who demonstrate exceptional leadership and/or skills in developing comprehensive/strategic communication plans and outstanding tactical communication materials. This awards program provides recognition and professional support for individuals and school systems doing great work in communicating with parents, staff, the media, employees, and stakeholder groups.

To ensure clear distinctions between Publications & Digital Media and Strategic Communication Awards, the ALSPRA awards are divided into three main categories:

1. Professional Awards (Individual Recognition)

2. Excellence in Communications Awards (Publications & Digital Media)

3. ALSPRA Excellence in Strategic Communications Awards

This restructuring ensures that communication materials are evaluated separately from comprehensive/strategic programs, allowing for fairer comparisons and more meaningful recognition of exceptional work in school public relations.

Professional Awards Category

Alabama Communicator of the Year Award

This award recognizes an ALSPRA member for outstanding work in the field of public relations during the previous academic year. A nominated member may be at any point in their career. Nominations will be accepted from ALSPRA members, colleagues, supervisors, superintendents, and Board of Education members. Self-nominations are allowed and encouraged. The winner will go on to compete for the NSPRA School Communicator of the Year Award.

Emerging Leader Award 

This award recognizes an individual who is making an impact in school PR with fewer than five years in the profession. To be considered for the award, the individual must be an active member of ALSPRA. Any ALSPRA member in good standing may nominate a fellow member (or self-nominate) for this award.  

Nez Calhoun Distinguished Service Award

This award honors an ALSPRA member for his or her commitment and dedication to the organization and to the profession. Typically, this member has gone above and beyond the call to support ALSPRA and its members. Any ALSPRA member in good standing may nominate a fellow member (or self-nominate) for this award. 

How To Enter · Professional Awards Category

Please use this form to nominate yourself or a colleague. Emails are not collected and self-nominations are encouraged!  There is no entry fee in the Professional Awards category.

Nominations will be reviewed by a committee of ALSPRA members and public relations professionals from around the state. Winners will be recognized during an ALSPRA Awards Ceremony.

Excellence in Communications Awards Category

This award category recognizes individuals, schools, school systems, and/or affiliated associations for tactical materials and digital media. All entries are judged individually. Listed below are examples of the types of categories eligible for entry.

Materials/publications/programs/projects/campaigns must have been underway or completed between July 1, 2024, and June 30, 2025

• Annual Reports

• Branding/Image Package

• Calendars

• Excellence in writing

• Financial publications

• Handbook/Guide

• Infographics

• Newsletters, newspapers, or magazines

• Marketing materials

• Podcasts or radio programs/advertisements/public service announcements

• Special purpose publications

• Social media campaigns

• Videos or television programs/advertisements/public service announcements

• Websites or blogs

ALSPRA Excellence in Strategic Communications Award

The ALSPRA Excellence in Strategic Communications Award recognizes outstanding strategic work in all aspects of school public relations, communication, marketing, and engagement. The ALSPRA Excellence in Strategic Communications Award is the top award recognizing superior public relations programs and campaigns grounded in strategic communication best practices. Entries will be judged individually using a rubric to determine evidence of Research, Planning, Implementation, and Evaluation (RPIE).

Materials/publications/programs/projects/campaigns must have been underway or completed between July 1, 2024, and June 30, 2025.

• Bond/finance election campaigns

• Community outreach and public engagement initiatives\

• Comprehensive, Strategic, Year-Round Communication Program 

• Crisis communication and response 

• Customer service programs

• Education advocacy programs/coalitions

• Internal communication programs 

• Marketing/branding campaigns 

• Public Engagement / Parent involvement campaigns/programs

• School safety, wellness, and inclusion programs

• Special Communication project 

• Staff and student recognition programs

How to Enter · Excellence in Communications and ALSPRA Excellence in Strategic Communication Awards  

Please submit the following:

1. A completed entry form. 

2. A single check or money order payable to ALSPRA to cover all entries; entry fees are $30 per entry for ALSPRA members and $50 per entry for non-members for Excellence in Communication Awards, $50 per entry for ALSPRA members and $70 for non-members for ALSPRA Excellence in Strategic Communications Awards.

3. Send an emailed attachment (PDF, JPG, MP3, MP4, etc.) of the entered piece(s) with the completed entry form to alabamaschoolpr@gmail.com. If your publication was not made digitally or is better suited to be viewed in print, please mail your entries and check to the address below. Please note: You must include at least one, but no more than three, examples of work about your entry.

4. Send entry fee check/money order to ALSPRA, P.O. Box 262, Pelham, AL 35124.

All entries must be postmarked by October 15, 2025.  Entries will not be considered until ALSPRA has received all items listed above. Each entry is judged based on the overall excellence of the included piece(s). Entries are judged individually, not against other entries. Winners will be recognized at the annual ALSPRA Awards Luncheon.