2026-2027 NSPRA Emerging Leaders Award

Each year, NSPRA's Emerging Leaders Award recognizes up to seven individuals (one from each of NSPRA’s seven regions) who are making an impact in school PR, communications or marketing with fewer than five years in the profession.

Submission Deadline: November 2, 2026

2026-2027 NSPRA Superintendents to Watch Nomination

Each year the National School Public Relations Association recognizes a select number of superintendents as Superintendents to Watch. Honorees are school district leaders who have fewer than five years of experience as a superintendent and who demonstrate dynamic, fast-paced leadership with strong communication at its core.

Submission Deadline: November 2, 2026

Arizona School Public Relations Association Scholarship

The Arizona School Public Relations Association offers scholarships for the pursuit of Accreditation in Public Relations (APR).

Applications are open all year:

• APR Scholarship

2026 Mary Pat Pfeil Wisconsin School Communicator of the Year Award (WSPRA)

The Mary Pat Pfeil Wisconsin School Communicator of the Year Award honors one outstanding individual from the school public relations profession in the State of Wisconsin. The annual award is announced at WSPRA's annual Fall Conference in November.

Submission Deadline: September 18, 2026

2026 Wisconsin School Public Relations Association (WSPRA) Scholarship Program

The Wisconsin School Public Relations Association offers two scholarship opportunities recognizing dedication, leadership and professional growth in school communications. The George Tipler Founders' Scholarship provides a one-year NSPRA membership, while the Holtshopple Scholarship awards complimentary registration to the next WSPRA Fall Conference. Both honors celebrate WSPRA members who demonstrate commitment to the profession and their communities.

Submission Deadline: October 9, 2026

2026 Georgia School Public Relations Association (GSPRA) Publications Award & Peach Award Contests

Get the recognition you deserve for your best work! At the GSPRA Annual Conference, the Association acknowledges school public relations professionals demonstrating exceptional communications skills by producing outstanding publications, photography, and electronic media. This evaluation program is designed to provide recognition and professional support for those who do great work in communicating with parents, staff, the media, community members, business partners and other specialized public. This contest is open to any Georgia school, school system, postsecondary institution, educational agency or education-related association.

Submission Deadline: August 27, 2026

Extended Deadline: September 3, 2026 

2026 Chesapeake School Public Relations Association (CHESPRA) Communications Contest

Showcase your best communications work and earn recognition for excellence in school public relations across the Chesapeake region. The CHESPRA Communications Contest celebrates outstanding communications produced by public school divisions and schools in Maryland, Virginia, Washington D.C., and West Virginia. Use the form below to submit your entry. Please complete a separate form for each submission.

Before submitting, carefully review the contest rules, eligibility requirements, categories, deadlines, and submission guidelines available on the CHESPRA website. Winners will be recognized at the CHESPRA Fall Conference in October.

Questions? Please contact CHESPRA Vice President of Awards & Recognition Claire Mitzel at cmitzel@rcps.info.

Submissions are due by 5 p.m. on Monday, September 14, 2026.

2026 Chesapeake School Public Relations Association (CHESPRA) School Communicator of the Year

Celebrate excellence in school communications by nominating a deserving colleague for CHESPRA's Fourth Annual School Communicator of the Year Award. 

This prestigious honor recognizes active, front-line school communicators who demonstrate exceptional leadership, communication expertise, professionalism, and community involvement while advancing public education and strengthening trust within their school communities. The CHESPRA School Communicator of the Year will serve as the chapter’s nominee for the NSPRA National School Communicator of the Year Award.

Please review the eligibility requirements and required submission materials carefully before completing your nomination. Please note:

• Nominees must have been CHESPRA members for at least five consecutive years, attended a CHESPRA conference each year for the past three years, and demonstrate outstanding accomplishments within the last five years.
• Submission materials include:
  • a biographical sketch
  • a minimum of two letters of support
  • up to five pages of additional supporting materials.

We encourage nominators to provide specific examples that highlight the nominee's impact on their school system, profession, and community.

Questions? Please contact CHESPRA Vice President of Awards & Recognition Claire Mitzel at cmitzel@rcps.info.

Submit a nomination by Monday, September, 14, 2026.

2027 California School Public Relations Association (CalSPRA) Awards

CalSPRA’s Excellence in Communication Awards program recognizes the successful efforts of education agencies and communication professionals in producing materials and services that meet the information needs of communities throughout our state.

There are three categories available: 

1) Comprehensive Program of Campaign (Be prepared to apply the four-step process in your submission)

2) Tactical Efforts (Be prepared to discuss audience, distribution, and impact in your submission)

3) Special Recognitions (Free to submit): Emerging Communicator of the Year, Communicator of the Year, Superintendent to Watch, CalSPRA Distinguished Service Award

Projects eligible for submission must have been completed between July 1, 2025, and June 30, 2026 (the 2025-26 school year). It is okay if the project was started prior to July 1, 2025.

The 2027 Excellence in Communication Awards Program opens for award submissions on September 1, 2026, and closes on October 31, 2026, at midnight. No extensions will be granted.

• Preview the Comprehensive Program or Campaign entry form here before submitting.
• Preview the Tactics entry form here before submitting.
• Preview the CalSPRA Distinguished Service Award nomination form here before submitting.
• Preview the Emerging Communicator of the Year nomination form here before submitting.
• Preview the Communicator of the Year nomination form here before submitting.

• Preview the Superintendent to Watch form here before submitting.

Submit a nomination or entry by midnight on October 31, 2026.

2026 Washington School Public Relations Association (WSPRA) Awards

The WSPRA Communication Awards program recognizes creative and effective work in communications. The awards program also provides valuable feedback from other communications professionals. 

Submit a nomination by August 25, 2026.

2026 Sunshine State School Public Relations Association (SUNSPRA) Fall Awards

The WSPRA Communication Awards program recognizes creative and effective work in communications. The awards program also provides valuable feedback from other communications professionals. 

Submit a nomination by September 30, 2026.

2026 Illinois School Public Relations Association (INSPRA) Communications Awards

Illinois School Public Relations Association (INSPRA) recognizes the best and brightest among video, website, email, and many other school PR campaigns with our annual Communications Contest.

Submit a nomination by September 18, 2026.