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UCPS takes home 31 awards for excellence in communication

The Union County Public Schools Communications Team won 31 Blue Ribbon Awards for outstanding and effective communication at the North Carolina School Public Relations Association’s (NCSPRA) ceremony, April 11. The Blue Ribbon Awards are the highest honor a school district can receive from NCSPRA, the state’s leading organization for school communications and public relations professionals. UCPS was one of 35 school districts statewide to receive Blue Ribbon Awards.

“This recognition reflects the incredible talent, innovation and commitment of our UCPS Communications Team. They work tirelessly to tell our district’s story with clarity and heart, helping to build trust and connection with our families, staff and community. I’m grateful for their hard work and proud to see their excellence celebrated at the state level,” said Superintendent Dr. Andrew Houlihan.

Valerie Newton, NCSPRA President and Director of Communication and Family Engagement for Sampson County Schools, said the award winners' work exemplifies the high standards of the North Carolina School Public Relations Association and the outstanding work of its members.

“We are extremely proud of the work being done by NCSPRA members across the state, and the Blue Ribbon Award winners have demonstrated excellence in all facets of communication. Their expertise and professionalism in the field of communication highlight the superior work being done by North Carolina public schools, and their accomplishments deserve recognition. I congratulate all of our winners for the outstanding work they do to support students and teachers and promote public education.”    

UCPS team received 15 gold-level awards, 13 silver-level awards and three bronze-level awards. Each winning entry reflected the intentional, creative, and impactful ways the Communications team shares the stories of students, staff, districtwide initiatives, events and strategic messaging efforts.

The awards and the level of recognition are listed below:

Excellence in Writing:

Electronic Media:

Image/Graphic Design:

Marketing:

Photography:

Digital Media Engagement:

Special Events & Programs:

Publications (Print & Electronic):

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 www.ncspra.org.

Below are the entries from the photography category.

04/14/2025