Gaston County Schools earns 13 Blue Ribbon Awards
State awards program recognizes effective school communications and public relations
Gaston County Schools
was among 31 school districts
in North Carolina to win Blue
Ribbon Awards for effective
school communications and public
relations.
the special events and programs
category for the “Big 50 Parade,”
which was held in September
to kick off the school district’s
golden anniversary celebration.
The entry was considered by the
contest judges as the top entry
in the state for the special events
and programs category.
The awards were presented to
members of the school district’s
Communications Department
during the North Carolina School
Public Relations Association’s
(NCSPRA) Blue Ribbon Awards
ceremony and brunch on Friday,
February 1 at the O. Henry Hotel
in Greensboro.
Gaston County Schools
won awards in the following
categories:
Gold Awards
n Special Events and Programs –
Big 50 Parade (“Best of the Best”
category winner)
n Special Events and Programs
– Stanley Middle School Grand
Opening Ceremony
n Marketing – For Your
Information: School Bonds 2018
n Publications – Teacher Job Fair
Publications
n
Gaston County Schools received 13 awards for effective school
communications and public relations from the N.C. School Public
Relations Association (NCSPRA). Members of the Communications
Department accepted the awards during the Blue Ribbon Awards
ceremony on February 1 in Greensboro. From left to right are
Todd Hagans, chief communications officer; Chris Fuller, NCSPRA
executive director; Allison Drennan, communications coordinator;
Charlotte Wright, administrative assistant; Sean Corcoran, web
communications coordinator; Valerie Yatko, director of business and
community partnerships; and Patricia Hollingsworth, NCSPRA vice
president. Fuller and Hollingsworth presented the awards to Gaston
County Schools.
Publications – Information Guide 2018-2019
n Electronic Media – “Our Five Finalists: Gaston County Teacher of the
Year” video
n
Electronic Media – “From the Superintendent” video series
Silver Awards
n Digital Media Engagement – “Quick Clip” videos
n Special Events and Programs – Back-to-School Convocation 2018
n Excellence in Writing – Superintendent’s Message: Class of 2018
n Excellence in Writing – Uncharted Territory is a Familiar Place for
First-Year Teacher
Bronze Award
n Digital Media Engagement – Graduation 2018 Webpage/Outstanding
Senior Profiles
In addition, Gaston County won the “Best of the Best” award in
earned statewide recognition.”
The Communications
Department includes Todd
Hagans, chief communications
officer; Tom Nencetti, Channel
21 program manager; Sean
Corcoran, web communications
coordinator; Allison Drennan,
communications coordinator;
Valerie Yatko, director of business
and community partnerships;
Charlotte Wright, administrative
assistant; Maurice Johnson,
printing supervisor; and Jennifer
Blanton, printing assistant.
“We are very proud of our
Communications Department,
and we take great pride in
their excellent work,” stated
Superintendent of Schools W.
Jeffrey Booker. “To win a Blue
Ribbon Award is an outstanding
achievement, and we are
extremely pleased to see that
our various public relations and
communication efforts have
A Blue Ribbon Award is the highest honor a school district can
receive from the North Carolina School Public Relations Association.
The award recognizes excellence in school communications and public
relations in eight categories: digital media engagement, electronic
media, excellence in writing, image/graphic design, marketing,
photography, publications (print and electronic), and special events and
programs.
Members of the Georgia School Public Relations Association judged
the entries. There are three award levels: gold, silver, and bronze.
The judges score entries based on content, quality, effectiveness, and
overall impression.
“We would like to congratulate Gaston County Schools for gaining
recognition as a 2018 Blue Ribbon Award winner,” said NCSPRA
executive director Chris Fuller. “Our awards program is about
recognizing the quality work of school public relations professionals in
our state and bringing attention to their outstanding efforts to support
and promote our public schools.”
NCSPRA is the premier organization for school communications and
public relations professionals in North Carolina. For more information,
visit the NCSPRA website, www.ncspra.org.
Parent Teacher Magazine • March/April 2019 • 9