The Blue Ridge Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America held the 20th annual Summit Awards on Nov. 3 at the Roanoke Sheraton. The Summit Awards recognize the best in public relations work in western Virginia. The chapter received more than 60 entries in various campaign and tactics categories. Gold and Silver awards were presented in most categories. In addition, a “Best In Show Award” was presented to the top scoring entry each of the two divisions, campaigns and tactics. A complete list of Summit Award winners is below.
This year, the Chapter decided to honor the memories of Alison Parker and Adam Ward who were tragically lost in August 2015. The Chapter created the Adam & Alison Award for Media Excellence. Chapter members nominated members of the media who exemplified excellence in media reporting. The PRSA Blue Ridge board then selected a single winner. The winner of the inaugural Adam & Alison Award for Media Excellence is Joe Dashiell from WDBJ TV.
“Many of us worked with Adam & Alison closely and we continue to grieve over their loss,” said PRSA Blue Ridge Chapter President Betsy Parkins. “We wanted to find a way to honor their memories for many years and we felt this award would be a great way to do that,” Parkins said.
The Blue Ridge Chapter also presented a special award. The Lin Chaff Award is named in honor of Lin Chaff, a founding member of the Blue Ridge Chapter who was widely respected in the public relations profession. This award recognizes overall creativity in a tactic or campaign. The winner of the 2016 Lin Chaff Award Carilion Clinic for the Up and Away: Launch of the Carilion Children’s Brand Campaign.
The Summit Award winners are:
CAMPAIGNS:
Community Partnerships:
- Gold: Roanoke County Public Schools – Load the Bus 2016
- Silver: BAE Systems – Radford University Summer Bridge Community Partnership
Internal Communication (For-Profit Organizations):
- Gold: Access Advertising & Public Relations – Friendship Brand Guide
- Silver: Access Advertising & Public Relations – BAE Systems – Ordnance Systems, Inc.
Internal Communication (Non-Profit Organizations):
- Gold: Carilion Clinic – Inspire 2016: The Superhero Within
Issues & Crisis Management:
- Gold: City of Roanoke – Bringing George Takei to Roanoke
Marketing Products or Services (For-Profit Organizations):
- Gold: Access Advertising & Public Relations – Visit Virginia’s Blue Ridge Content Marketing Campaign
- Silver: Access Advertising & Public Relations – Inorganic Ventures TCT Custom Stock
Marketing Products or Services (Government/Education Organizations):
- Gold: Va. Dept. of Transportation, Salem District – Travel to the Left Side: The Diverging Diamond Interchange
- Silver: Roanoke County Parks, Recreation & Tourism – Splash Valley July 2016 Campaign
Marketing Products or Services (Non-Profit Organizations):
- Gold: Carilion Clinic – Up and Away: Launch of the Carilion Children’s Brand
- Silver: Anstey Hodge Advertising Group – Mill Mountain Theatre Markets Season Opener/Musical Revue
Public Relations Campaign (Government/Education Organizations):
- Gold: B2C – Cave Spring Volunteer Fire Department Recruitment Campaign
- Silver: Roanoke County Parks, Recreation & Tourism – Explore Park Adventure Plan Public Launch
Special Event (Two days or shorter):
- Gold: ndp – Xperience
- Silver: Roanoke County Public Schools – Graduation Live 2016
Special Event (Longer than two days):
- Gold: BAE Systems – Team Radford 75th Anniversary
- Silver: Va. Western Community College – 50th Anniversary Celebration
BEST IN SHOW: Carilion Clinic – Up and Away: Launch of the Carilion Children’s Brand
TACTICS:
Annual Report:
- Silver: Institute for Advanced Learning and Research – 2015 Annual Report
- Gold: Access Advertising & Public Relations – Foundation for Roanoke Valley Annual Report
Magazines:
- Gold: Anstey Hodge Advertising Group – Hollins University Summer 2016 Magazine
- Silver: Access Advertising & Public Relations – Virginia Museum of Transportation: 611 Magazine, Summer 2016
Media Relations (For-Profit Organizations):
- Gold: Access Advertising & Public Relations – Navy Week
- Silver: Access Advertising & Public Relations – TMEIC PV Test Lab Opening
Media Relations (Government/Educational Organizations):
- Gold: Va. Dept. of Transportation, Salem District – GO ORANGE: Work Zone Awareness Week in the Salem District
- Silver: Va. Western Community College – Roanoke Times Insert
Media Relations (Non-Profit Organizations):
- Gold: Carilion Clinic – Life-Guard 35th Anniversary Celebration
Mobile/Tablet Application:
- Gold: Roanoke County Parks, Recreation & Tourism – Roanoke County Parks App
Multimedia Program (two minutes or less):
- Gold: Carilion Clinic – Up and Away: Launch of the Carilion Children’s Brand TV Spot
- Silver: Va. Department of Transportation, Salem District – Travel to the Left Side: The Diverging Diamond Interchange
Multimedia Program (longer than two minutes):
- Gold: Roanoke County Public Schools – Graduation Live 2016
- Silver: Access Advertising & Public Relations – Inorganic Ventures: Transpiration Control Technology (TCT) Custom Stock
Newsletter (internal audiences):
- Gold: Institute for Advanced Learning and Research – Newsletter – The Institute for Advanced Learning and Research
Print Publication (single page):
- Gold: Roanoke County Parks, Recreation & Tourism – Explore Park Adventure Plan Brochure
- Silver: Access Advertising & Public Relations – Rolling of the Bulls Signature Poster
Public Service Announcement:
- Gold: Montgomery County – Citizens Alert – Sign up Today!
Social Media:
- Gold: Institute for Advanced Learning and Research – Strategic Communication with Social Media
- Silver: Va. Western Community College – Fall Semester Countdown
Website (primary site):
- Gold: City of Roanoke – The New RoanokeVA.gov
- Silver: Access Advertising & Public Relations – VCOM website
Website (special purpose or microsite):
- Silver: ndp’s Holiday Pie-Jinx
Writing:
- Gold: ndp – The Boys Home of Virginia Op-Ed
- Silver: Roanoke County Public Schools – State of the Schools Speech 2015
BEST IN SHOW: Carilion Clinic – Up and Away: Launch of the Carilion Children’s Brand TV Spot.
