Awards Nominate Your Chapter Criteria, Requirements and Incentives

Section I: Membership Building

All chapters in good standing are eligible to enter for recognition under Section I: Membership Building, which focuses on building NSPRA membership at the state level. To be considered for recognition, a chapter must initiate and maintain a concerted effort to increase the number of chapter members who belong to NSPRA. 

Section II: Special Focus Areas

All chapters in good standing are eligible to enter for recognition in Section II: Special Focus Areas, but submissions are limited to one (1) entry per Special Focus Area. There are three special focus areas: 

• Professional development/PR skill-building;
• Special PR/communication program, project or campaign; and
• Coalition-building/collaborative communication efforts.

Professional Development/PR Skill-Building
Chapter must plan and provide a variety of programs/activities throughout the year to support the professional growth, status and communication skills of members. (Examples: in-person or virtual conferences and workshops, chapter meeting programs, member mentor programs, PR counsel and crisis support efforts, contests and awards, activities to raise the visibility of the school PR profession)

Special PR/Communication Program, Project or Campaign 
Chapter must plan and implement a special PR/communication program, project or campaign—with a specific goal (e.g., education advocacy, communicating high-interest topics, develop a product for sale, public service campaign, special event)—that was underway for at least one year. It may be a:

• One-time program, project or campaign completed within a single year;
• Continuing annual program, project or campaign that repeats each year but demonstrates new/improved/revised components; or
• Multi-year program, project or campaign with a defined start and end date (only enter once complete).

Coalition-Building/Collaborative Communication Efforts
Chapter must initiate or participate in a jointly sponsored project or activity with an education/business/community organization(s) to build support for public education (e.g., statewide advocacy or education funding campaign, community engagement effort, communication resources on a specific topic).

To be eligible to receive a Mark of Distinction, chapters must be in good standing with NSPRA. This requires that a chapter:

• Meets at least once (virtually or in person) during the current fiscal year.
• Submits a chapter cash flow report to NSPRA by Oct. 31 each year.
• Submits a chapter membership list to NSPRA by Oct. 31 each year.
• Submits chapter officer election results to NSPRA following each election.
• Has at least 10 chapter members who are also current NSPRA members.
• Adheres to all of its current chapter bylaws.

The Mark of Distinction online entry form requires submission of a summary of the programs/activities/efforts being entered (400 words max). In the summary, describe the goal(s), objective(s), target audience(s), timeline and outcome(s) as well as how effectiveness was evaluated. Explain how the programs/activities/efforts relate to NSPRA’s mission and goals.  

The entry form also requires attaching documentation of the programs/activities/efforts described in the summary. Some examples of documentation include a communication plan, promotional materials, presentations, print or digital publications, links to social media and website posts, media coverage, etc.