Communications Awards Program

The MOSPRA Communication Awards Committee has taken the good work of Bob Satnan and his colleagues and made some changes in the program. The goal is to provide members an opportunity to submit their quality work and, in turn, receive feedback from public relations professionals and other experts in the field. This year, for the first time, members may submit their first entry at no charge! (Additional entries are $35/each.)

ABOUT THE PROGRAM

The Missouri School Public Relations Association (MOSPRA) invites you to enter the only awards program in Missouri specifically recognizing high quality school publications and materials that promote the mission and message of a school district. The MOSPRA Communications Awards Program is designed to provide recognition for creative and effective work in school public 

Contest Awards

Each entry will be evaluated and assigned an award category based upon judging points. Those earning Awards of Excellence will be recognized at the MOSPRA Fall Conference. School public relations professionals and other communications experts from across the country will be judging this contest. Valuable feedback from these judges will be provided for all contest entries.

Award of Excellence: 94% to 100% of the points possible

Award of Merit: 82% to 93% of the points possible

Award of Commendation: 65% to 81% of the points possible

Contest Criteria

Each entry will be judged by communications professionals and other experts in the field. This valuable feedback will be provided for all entries. Please note that certain categories have specific requirements which are listed within the category descriptions. 

Contest Categories

MOSPRA is pleased to offer an exceptionally strong and comprehensive Awards Program. We use the Open Water evaluation software, which streamlines the work of our judges and provides consistent feedback for member submissions. 

Newsletter
External or internal, published periodically. TWO different issues of the newsletter must be submitted to qualify as one entry. Links to additional issues may be submitted, but are optional. Print or digital. You may also include an optional one-page summary that outlines the purpose of your entry, providing additional context to help judges better understand your work.  

Video (One-Person)

A single video (If part of a series, select one episode. Full series can be entered in Golden Achievement.). Judging will be based on strategic purpose and content along with quality. Please provide a URL to access the video, rather than a file upload. Submissions must include a brief strategic purpose of the video.

Video (Multi-Person)

A single video (If part of a series, select one episode. Full series can be entered in Golden Achievement.). Judging will be based on strategic purpose and content along with quality. Please provide a URL to access the video, rather than a file upload. Submissions must include a brief strategic purpose of the video.

Marketing Materials/Magazine/Special Purpose Publication
Items used to communicate the appealing qualities or explain educational issues of a school, district or program. External or internal booklet, brochure, poster or material not included in other categories. This is a single piece (multiple piece campaigns would fall under Golden Achievement). Please provide a URL or attach a PDF version of your entry. You may also include an optional one-page summary that outlines the target audience and purpose of your entry, providing additional context to help judges better understand your work.  

Social Media
Social media communication campaign or collection of posts that effectively use social media for awareness, fundraising, enrollment drives, or other strategic objectives. Those wishing to complete an optional page with overview/purpose of the campaign/posts; links to the social media content; relevant analytics that demonstrate the level of engagement with the social media content; and description of the outcomes achieved may do so.

Writing
One article from a newsletter, newspaper op-ed piece, website, editorial or speech. Length of 500 to 5,000 words. Submit only the relevant article, not an entire publication. Submit ONE article per entry. You may also include an optional one-page summary that outlines the target audience and purpose of your entry, providing additional context to help judges better understand your work.  

Photography/Photo Series

A single photo or a series of up to five images that capture a moment, tell a story or represent school life. Judged on technical quality, composition, creativity and storytelling. You may also include an optional one-page summary that outlines the target audience and purpose of your entry, providing additional context to help judges better understand your work.  

Infographic

A visual representation of information or data designed to communicate complex ideas clearly and quickly. Submit one infographic. You may also include an optional one-page summary that outlines the target audience and purpose of your entry, providing additional context to help judges better understand your work.  Please note, submissions must be original work created by the entrant and may not include AI-generated content or work produced by students or vendors.

Calendar
A printed or digital calendar designed to inform and engage a school community. Entries should demonstrate clarity, organization, readability and strong brand consistency. You may also include an optional one-page summary that outlines the target audience and purpose of your entry, providing additional context to help judges better understand your work.  

Golden Achievement Award (2 categories: 1-person shop and multi-person department)
The Golden Achievement Award recognizes best practices as demonstrated by a single public relations effort, program, event or campaign. It includes the use of multiple strategies and communication methods.

• Research: Evidence of analysis of need for the program or activity and state goals of the program or activity
• Planning: Evidence of planning to address the need for the program or activity
• Implementation: Evidence that activities, including communications, were carried out as planned
• Evaluation: Evidence that an evaluation component was included in the development of the plan and carried out

The evaluation must include a way to measure success of the program or activity and evidence of objective evaluation of communication techniques used.

Examples of potential entries include:

Please combine all pieces of the campaign in PDF form OR include URL addresses for archived versions of the materials. In the body of the summary document, please list all the pieces of the campaign you are submitting.

View Past Top Award Recipients' Submissions.

Entry Rules

• Entries must have been published after July 1, 2025 and on or before June 30, 2026
• Student work is not accepted with the exception of work done by district-sponsored “student interns” under the guidance of the communication office. 
• Work by outside vendors and/or contractors is not accepted.
• Each entry must be submitted separately
• All entries and payment must be received by August 7, 2026

 

How to Enter (Entries begin May 1, 2026)

●  Upload entry item (or provide URL) and any additional requirements for associated categories

• For Golden Achievement entries, include the one-page summary. 

 

Cost and Payment Options

Each district will receive their first entry for free and $35 for each additional entry

Starting May 1, 2026: To pay for your submissions, please visit and click on the MemberClicks Site and select the Events tab. You will see that you may pay for your initial (free) and any subsequent submissions. You will have the option to pay via credit card or have an invoice sent to you and pay by check. The invoice will note the address to send the check: 

Communications Awards Committee

• Kari Yeagy: (Committee Coordinator): Kyeagy@hallsville.org  
• Brian Heyman: bheyman@psdr3.org
• Lynn Goehring: lynn.goehring@hickmanmills.org
• Mary LaPak: lapakmary@rsdmo.org

Send questions to MOSPRA_Director@iCloud.com or Kyeagy@hallsville.org

 

ENTRIES WILL BE ACCEPTED STARTING MAY 1, 2026. APPLICATION WINDOW CLOSES AUGUST 7, 2026.