The National School Public Relations Association's Gold Medallion Awards program is the only national awards competition that recognizes superior educational public relations programs and campaigns grounded in strategic communication best practices. This year, four Gold Medallion winners were selected from among 64 entries submitted by communication professionals from school districts across the United States. The four winning school districts and their communicators will be celebrated during the NSPRA 2022 National Seminar in July.

Entries were submitted in six categories, but only four of those categories had a winner. Congratulations to the following school districts and their communications staff on earning a 2022 NSPRA Gold Medallion:

Bond/Finance Campaign 

• I Believe in 27J Schools 
  27J Schools 
  Brighton, Colo. 
  Submitted by: Janelle Asmus, APR, Director of Communications, Communications Department 

Marketing Communication Campaign 

• The Road to Success Starts in Deer Valley 
  Deer Valley Unified School District 
  Phoenix, Arizona 
  Submitted by: Monica Allread, Director, Communications and Community Engagement Department

Public Engagement / Parental Involvement Campaign 

• Renaming of Vance Elementary School
  Asheville City Schools 
  Asheville, North Carolina 
  Submitted by: Ashley-Michelle Thublin, APR, Executive Director of Communications, Communications Department 

Special Communication Project / Campaign 

• VaxUp FCPS: Reestablishing Trust in the Face of Pandemic Surges  
  Fairfax County Public Schools 
  Falls Church, Virginia 
  Submitted by: Christie Scott, Communications Manager, Office of Communication and Community Relations 

"Our 2022 winners clearly demonstrated their deep understanding of the elements of an effective school communication plan that creates an authentic, positive impact on their communities. Their work truly reflects the best in school public relations, and I am so proud of their commitment to best practices," said NSPRA Executive Director Barbara M. Hunter, APR.

Gold Medallion winners will be honored during the NSPRA President Installation and Gold Medallion Awards Ceremony Luncheon, sponsored by K12 Insight, at the NSPRA 2022 National Seminar on Wednesday, July 20, from 11:45 a.m. - 1:45 p.m. CT at the Sheraton Grand Chicago Hotel, 301 E North Water St., Chicago, Illinois. Luncheon tickets are $45/ticket and must be purchased in advance by Monday, July 10. Tickets can be purchased when registering for the Seminar or by updating an existing registration by contacting seminar@nspra.org.

At the Seminar, Gold Medallion winners also will present on their campaigns during the Gold Mine Roundtables sessions on Wednesday, July 20, from 8 – 10:15 a.m. CT. 

Winners are featured on the NSPRA website and will be spotlighted in association member e-newsletters in the coming school year.