Awards of Distinction

AWARDS OF DISTINCTION

PLEASE NOTE, MOSPRA IS IN THE PROCESS OF CHANGING HOW NOMINATIONS ARE RECEIVED. PLEASE CONTACT DAVID LUTHER BEFORE INITIATING THE NOMINATION PROCESS: MOSPRA_Director@iCloud.com.

Nominations ideally will come from multiple people from diverse backgrounds (communications colleague, superintendent or other administrator, building principal, board member, parent and/or community member)
Nomination letters will include specific attributes of the nominee and examples that illustrate the attributes. (Sample attributes are noted in each category.)
MOSPRA will accept a maximum of five letters for the nominee. Please limit letters to no more than two pages in length.

PROFESSIONAL OF THE YEAR

The recipient must be a member of MOSPRA and have been a professional in school public relations for more than 12 months at the time of the nomination deadline. The person should have made a valuable contribution to either an education institution or MOSPRA in promoting school PR or have made a difference in the life of students. Sample attributes include professionalism; strategic skills; organization; ability to develop and implement high-quality communication practices; commitment to helping MOSPRA as an association, etc.

NEW PROFESSIONAL OF THE YEAR

The recipient shall be employed at least half-time in the field of public relations for no more than 24 months and be a member of MOSPRA. The recipient shall have exhibited a creative, dedicated and professional approach to school public relations. Sample attributes include professionalism; commitment to obtain professional development; strategic skills; ability to develop and implement high-quality communication practices, etc.

ADMINISTRATOR OF THE YEAR

The recipient should not be in an official PR position, but be employed by an institution that has a member of MOSPRA. The recipient should have made a significant contribution to school PR and supported and/or advocated for MOSPRA in some way. Sample attributes include outward support of quality communications throughout school district/organization and a personal commitment to transparent, quality communications with staff, parents and community. Please provide specific examples.

DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD(Non-MOSPRA Member or Emeritus)

The recipient should have made a significant contribution to school public relations efforts or the enhancement of the image of education. The recipient may be a legislator, business person, community member, teacher or individual who is not a school PR professional. Sample attributes include outward support of quality communications throughout school district/organization; a personal commitment to -- or support of -- quality communications that heighten perceptions of public education.

DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD (MOSPRA Member)

The recipient should have made a significant contribution to school public relations efforts or the enhancement of the image of education. The recipient should be a practicing communications professional and a member of MOSPRA. Sample attributes include a personal commitment to quality communications that heighten perceptions of public education; a record of sustained excellence in communications and public relations; a record of support of the work of MOSPRA (examples include service to MOSPRA Board, MOSPRA committee service, mentoring of colleagues, etc.). The recipient must have a minimum of ten years in the field of school communications.

MOSPRA SPIRIT AWARD

The recipient shall be a MOSPRA member in good standing who exhibits an ongoing desire to help colleagues find their own personal success and be a positive voice for public education. Nominee qualities include mentoring others in school communications, specific acts to help the students of their district (and beyond), and a willingness to work with others in MOSPRA to promote quality communications and public relations.

The Spirit Award was developed in honor of former MOSPRA leader, Tina Zubeck.

Nomination dateline for 2025 awards: January 17, 2025.

Please email nominations to David Luther: MOSPRA_DIRECTOR@iCloud.com

David Luther
MOSPRA Executive Director
3550 Amazonas Dr.
Jefferson City, MO 65109
Email: MOSPRA_DIRECTOR@iCloud.com

Past Award Recipients

Professional of the Year

2024 Kelly Wachel, APR, Park Hill
2023 Ben Fisher, Reeds Spring
2022 Erica Chandler, APR, Affton
2021 Bob Satnan, Sedalia
2020 Matt Deichmann, APR, Francis Howell
2019 Cathy Orta, APR, Rockwood
2018 Janice Phelan, Lee’s Summit
2017 Melanie Powell-Robinson, Riverview Gardens
2016 Stephanie Smith, APR, Fort Osage
2015 Kelli Price, Joplin
2014 Mickey Schoonover, APR, Pattonville
2013 Jill Filer, Harrisonville
2012 Tina Zubeck, Platte County
2011 Chris Tennill, APR, Clayton
2010 Kim Cranston, APR, Rockwood
2009 Paul Tandy, APR, Parkway
2008 Mary Jo Burton, APR, North Kansas City
2007 David Luther, Jefferson City
2006 Cindy Gibson, APR, Ritenour
2005 Nicole Kirby, APR, Park Hill
2004 Roger Kurtz, MASA Executive Director & MOSPRA Member
2003
2002
2001
2000
1999 Dan Burns, Rockwood
1998 Howard Emerson, Hazelwood
1997
1996
1995 Bob Guttmann, Pattonville

Distinguished Service Award (External)

2024 No award
2023 Dr. Melissa Massey, Southwest Center for Excellence in Education
2022 Dr. Doug Hayter, MASA Executive Director
2021 Susan Downing, APR, Ladue (Ret.), “Write It, Downing,” LLC
2020 Kadee Brusard, KY 3 TV, Springfield
2019 Ken DeSieghardt, Patron Insight
2018 Cindy Gibson, APR, Past MOSPRA President and Education Consultant
2017 Maynard Wallace, Missouri State Board of Education
2016 Tracy Black, Troy Schools Foundation
2015 Dr. Gary Sharpe (MASA Executive Director, RET.)
2014 David Luther, Jefferson City Schools (Ret.)
2013 Brent Ghan, MSBA
2012 Dr. Chris Straub, Retired Supt, MASA, MSBA
2011 Guin Martin Mundorf, LLC
2010 Senator Charlie Shields
2009 Dan Burns, Unicom-ARC
2008 Todd Fuller, MSTA
2007 Phil Witt, WDAF TV
2006 Jim Morris, DESE
2005 Warren Krech, Jefferson City Radio Personality
2004
2003
2002
2001
2000
1999 Dr. Robert Bartman, Commissioner of DESE
1998 Rick Hemmingsen, Independence Chamber of Commerce
1997
1996
1995 Michael & Allison Wurst, Henry Wurst Printing

Distinguished Service Award (Internal) (This award was initiated in 2019)

2024 Tracie Skaggs, Carl Junction
2023 Paul Tandy, APR, Parkway
2022 Mickey Schoonover, APR, Pattonville
2021 Stephanie Smith, APR, Fort Osage
2020 Jill Filer, Harrisonville
2019 Nicole Kirby, APR Park Hill

Administrator of the Year

2024 Dr. Brad Welle, Grain Valley
2023 Dr. Travis Bracht, Affton
2022 Dr. Jeanette Cowherd, Park Hill
2021 Paul Mensching, Harrisonville
2020 Susan Crooks, Leeton
2019 Dr. Matt Teeter, Willard
2018 Dr. Chris Kilbride, Ritenour
2017 Dr. Aaron Zalis, Rolla
2016 Dr. John Jungmann, Springfield
2015 Todd Willhite, Salisbury
2014 Dr. Stephen Kleinsmith, Nixa
2013 Dr. Allan Markley, Raytown
2012 Dr. CJ Huff, Joplin
2011 Dr. Chris Belcher, Columbia
2010 Dr. Terry Adams, Wentzville
2009 Dr. Tom Cummings, North Kansas City
2008 Dr. David Benson, Ladue
2007 Dr. Larry Ewing, Fort Osage
2006 Dr. Don Senti, Clayton
2005 Dr. Craig Larson, Rockwood
2004
2003
2002
2001
2000
1999 Dr. Lynn Beckwith Jr., University City
1998 Dr. Terry Holder, St. Charles City
1997 Dr. Jerry Cooper, Hickman Mills

New Professional of the Year

2024 Amanda Miles, Fulton
2023 Amber Drapter, Special School District of St. Louis County
2022 Mickie Plummer-Shepheard, Park Hill
2021 Ana Espinoza, Monett; Ketina Armstrong, Meremac Valley R-III; Brian Heyman, Pattonville; Chuck McPherson, Grandview; Aurora Meyer, Columbia; Leigh Anne Reynolds, Boonville; Hunter Robinson, Mehlville (The selection committee felt that all of the nominees were deserving for the excellent work they did during the COVID-19 pandemic.)
2020 Kim Connell, Hollister
2019 Whitney Burrell, Willard
2018 Angie Lawson, Clinton
2017 Melissa McConnell, Belton
2016 Ben Fisher, Reed Springs
2015 Joey Austin, St. Joseph
2014 Bob Satnan, Sedalia
2013 Mallory McGowin, Jefferson City
2012 Kim Vann, Jopin
2011 Lana Snodgras, West Plains
2010 Steve Robertson, Cape Girardeau
2009 Zac Rantz, Nixa
2008 Doug Bray, Ritenour
2007 Kelly Wachel, Center
2006 Michelle Cronk, North Kansas City
2005 Ishmael Sistrunk, Normandy
2004
2003
2002
2001
2000
1999 Erica Abbett, Ladue
1998 David Clohessy, Riverview Gardens
1998 Marci McGraw, Fort Osage
1997 Amy Adams Moeller, CSD
1996
1995 Jeff Arnett, Rockwood

Zubeck Spirit Award

2024 Lana Snodgras, West Plains
2023 Gina Zervos, Rolla
2022 Stephanie Smith, APR, Fort Osage
2021 Laura Hulett, Platte
2020 Marci Minor, Mexico
2019 Paul Tandy, APR, Parkway
2018 Erica Chandler, Affton
2017 Meridith Pobst, Jackson
2016 Michelle Cronk, North Kansas City
2015 Jill Filer, Harrisonville

Last Modified on April 8, 2024

(These lists are incomplete. We are working to secure the names of past winners.)

Evaluation Process

DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARDS (Note: The process for nominating and evaluating the Distinguished Service Awards will change in 2024. Please revisit this site in November for the updated format. If you have questions, contact David Luther: MOSPRA_Director@iCloud.com.
- (Download the guide)
  
  Scoring Guide
  
  Rate nominees 1-5 with 5 as highest

Professional of the Year

Contributions to school PR this year
Contributions to his/her district’s communication efforts this year
Contributions to MOSPRA this year
Awards/Honors/MOSPRA Involvement
Specific examples provided

New Professional of the Year

Contributions to school PR
Contributions to his/her district’s communication efforts
Contributions to MOSPRA
Awards/Honors/MOSPRA Involvement
Specific examples provided

Administrator of the Year

Commitment to/values communication
Specific examples provided
Advocacy for/support of MOSPRA

Distinguished Service Award (non-MOSPRA)

Contributions to school PR/education
Specific examples provided

Distinguished Service Award (MOSPRA)

Contributions to school PR
Record of sustained excellence in school PR
Sustained support of MOSPRA
Specific examples provided

Tina Zubeck Spirit Award

Connecting colleagues
Providing mentoring to colleagues
Dedication to students/education
Positive energy/contributions to school PR

Last Modified on March 12, 2020