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Contest and Awards

OHSPRA Achievement Awards

Each year, OHSPRA honors individuals, school districts and others for their outstanding contributions in school communications.


Distinguished Individual Awards
These awards recognize individuals who support, champion, and help advance the great work school communicators are doing. 

School Communicator of the Year Award, Presented by Finalsite - This award recognizes the exemplary leadership of Ohio's school communications professionals for demonstrated commitment to the enhancement of communication and relationships between public schools and the students, families, and communities they serve. The award honors those who recognize that communication is a critical component of leadership. The winner will be nominated by OHSPRA for NSPRA's National School Communicator of the Year Award..


Doug Baker Mentorship Award - Established in 2023, this award celebrates the legacy of Doug Baker, a cherished OHSPRA member who was deeply committed to mentoring his peers, fostering connections, and serving education through school public relations. The recipient of this award exemplifies Doug's spirit by going above and beyond to guide, support, and inspire fellow OHSPRA members.


Crystal Award - Established in 1987 to recognize individuals who have dramatically and positively impacted school public relations, the Crystal Award is the highest honor bestowed to an OHSPRA member.


Friend of Education Award - School public relations is more than a one-person or one-department job. With that in mind, OHSPRA annually sponsors the Friend of Education Award to recognize those unofficial members of the school public relations team. Recipients can be individuals or groups of students, parents, volunteers, employees or community partners. 


Innovator Award - Established by OHSPRA in 2010 to recognize individuals who have introduced or utilized new methods of communication to dramatically advance or impact school public relations locally, state-wide, or nationally.

Entry Fee and Submission:

We can’t wait to celebrate you! Submissions for the OHSPRA Achievement Awards will open in November. The deadline to enter is January 16, 2026. 

OHSPRA MEMBERS: $75/one entry  $200/four entries

NON-MEMBERS: $100

NOTE: OHSPRA members include only those people who have purchased an individual membership or were one of the people specifically named in an institutional membership. Institutional memberships include up to three people; a fourth can be added for $55. All others qualify as non-members.

Entries will not be returned and become the property of OHSPRA. OHSPRA cannot accept purchase orders. Fees cannot be returned.

For more information email Mary Stephens, Director of Contest and Awards at awards@ohspra.org



Past Award Winners

OHSPRA had a record number of entries for the 2025 OHSPRA Achievement Awards with more than 300 entries! 

Professional Awards
The following were recognized as the 2025 Best of the Best Award Winners. 

  • E-Newsletter (Battelle for Kids)
  • Marketing Materials (Springfield City School District, Butler Tech)
  • Photography (Little Miami Local Schools)
  • Podcast (Dayton Public Schools)
  • PR & Marketing Plan (Orange City School District, Lorain City Schools)
  • Printed Newsletter (Dublin City Schools)
  • Quality Profile/Annual Report (Olentangy Schools)
  • Social Media (South-Western City Schools)
  • Social Media Campaign (Perkins Local Schools)
  • Special Purpose Publication (Willoughby-Eastlake City Schools)
  • Student Video (Lorain City Schools)
  • Video (Columbus City Schools)
  • Website (Fairview Park City School District)
  • Writing (ThenDesign Architecture and Indian Valley Local Schools)


Distinguished Individual Awards

Crystal Award - Established in 1987 to recognize individuals who have dramatically and positively impacted school public relations, the Crystal Award is the highest honor bestowed to an OHSPRA member. Past recipients include:

  • Kari Basson
  • Patti Koslo
  • Jill Moberley
  • Greg Viebranz
  • Scott Stephens
  • Crystal Davis
  • Liza Robbins

Friend of Education Award - School public relations is more than a one-person or one-department job. With that in mind, OHSPRA annually sponsors the Friend of Education Award to recognize those unofficial members of the school public relations team. Recipients can be individuals or groups of students, parents, volunteers, employees or community partners. Past recipients include:

  • John Hambrick, Eeucational Service Center of Central Ohio (2025)
  • Matt Whitted, Sandy Valley Local Schools (2025)
  • Kelli Peters, Centerville City Schools (2025)
  • Micki Young, South-Western City Schools (2025)
  • Frank Toth (2024)
  • Krissy Dietrich Gallagher (2023)
  • Brandy Bennett (2022)
  • Lee Conklin (2020)
  • Mark Wilson (2020)
  • Megan O'Bryan (2020)

Innovator Award - Established by OHSPRA in 2010 to recognize individuals who have introduced or utilized new methods of communication to dramatically advance or impact school public relations locally, state-wide, or nationally. Past recipients include: 

  • Greg Viebranz (2022)

School Communicator of the Year Award, Presented by Finalsite - This award recognizes the exemplary leadership of Ohio's school communications professionals for demonstrated commitment to the enhancement of communication and relationships between public schools and the students, families, and communities they serve. Past recipients include:

  • Kristen Miller, Shaker Heights City School District (2025)
  • Cassie Dietrich, Dublin City Schools (2024)

Doug Baker Mentorship Award - Established in 2023, this award celebrates the legacy of Doug Baker, a cherished OHSPRA member who was deeply committed to mentoring his peers, fostering connections, and serving education through school public relations. The recipient of this award exemplifies Doug's spirit by going above and beyond to guide, support, and inspire fellow OHSPRA members. Past recipients include:

  • Kari Basson (2024)


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Columbus, OH 43085
Phone: 216-309-1772

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