Photo Caption: PSRC Chief Communications Officer Jessica Horne holds three Blue Ribbon Awards the district earned for excellence in communications following the North Carolina School Public Relations Association’s Blue Ribbon Awards Ceremony in High Point on Friday.
LUMBERTON — The North Carolina School Public Relations Association (NCSPRA) has honored the Public Schools of Robeson County for excellence in communications for the second year in a row.
PSRC earned a total of three Blue Ribbon Awards for outstanding and effective communication. NCSPRA presented the awards during a special ceremony held in High Point on Friday.
This year, the district received a Silver Award for Publication, Bronze Award for Excellence in Writing and a Bronze Award for Photography.
PSRC Chief Communications Officer Jessica Horne attended the ceremony Friday where she was presented with the awards.
“It is an honor for the district to receive Blue Ribbon Awards for the second year in a row from NCSPRA,” Horne said.
“I am thankful for the opportunity to serve this district, its students and our stakeholders across Robeson County who make up our PSRC family. I am committed to continuing the improvement of our communication both internally and externally. I am also grateful to work with people across departments who are just as passionate and committed to the work as I am. This is one testament of the many great things happening in PSRC. Stay tuned for many many more!” she added.
This past year, PSRC brought home a Blue Ribbon Award in 2021 for Electronic Media. In 2015, the district was recognized with multiple Blue Ribbon Awards in various categories.
Ken Derksen, NCSPRA president and executive director for Community Engagement and Student and Family Support for Wayne County Public Schools, said the work of the award winners exemplifies the high standards members demonstrate in their daily school communications programs.
“I congratulate all of our Blue Ribbon Award recipients for achieving this statewide recognition for their school districts,” Derksen said. “These awards highlight the superior work being accomplished in the area of school communications and all that our members are doing to support and promote public schools across North Carolina.”
NCSPRA recognizes outstanding communications through its Blue Ribbon Awards program each year. The district was one of 38 school districts statewide to receive a Blue Ribbon Award. This year’s submission categories included: Marketing, Digital Media Engagement, Electronic Media, Excellence in Writing, Publications, Image/Graphic Design, Photography, and Special Projects and Events. The Georgia School Public Relations Association judged NCSPRA’s 2022 Blue Ribbon entries.
In addition to the Blue Ribbon Awards and Best of the Best Awards, NCSPRA presented its highest individual honor: the Barry Gaskins Outstanding Service Award. The award is named in memory of Barry Gaskins who was a leader in school public relations and the first person from North Carolina to become President of the National School Public Relations Association. The award is given to individuals who have demonstrated outstanding service and leadership in the field of school public relations in North Carolina.
The 2022-2023 Barry Gaskins Outstanding Service Award was presented to Jessica Swencki for her service to school public relations in North Carolina and her exceptional leadership throughout the pandemic. During 2020 and into 2021, Swencki led the COVID communications efforts for all of North Carolina’s K-12 public schools. She built and executed an effective crisis communications plan that helped sustain North Carolina’s 115 school districts throughout the pandemic. Her efforts earned her the respect and admiration of educators across the state and made her the very deserving recipient of NCSPRA’s highest individual honor for excellence in school communication.
NCSPRA is a statewide professional organization serving more than 175 members. Its mission is to build support for public education through well-planned and responsible public relations. For more information, please visit the NCSPRA Facebook page or www.ncspra.org.