Contest and Awards

OHSPRA Achievement Awards

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

Click on the award category below to submit your work! Deadline to submit is January 16, 2025. 

Professional Awards
These awards provide recognition for the outstanding communication efforts of members and non-members of OHSPRA. 

E-Newsletter
Marketing Materials
Photography
Podcast
PR/Marketing Plans
Printed Newsletter
Quality Profile/Annual Report Award (Electronic or Print)
Social Media Campaign
Social Media Page
Special Purpose Publication
Student Video
Video
Website
Writing

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.

Submit your Crystal Award Nomination

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. 

Submit your Friend of Education Award Nomination

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.

Submit Your Innovator Award Nomination

Entry Fee and Submission:

Deadline to submit your OHSPRA Achievement Award submissions is January 16, 2025! 

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.