SWBOCES School P.R. team continues to shine in national awards

Commitment to expertise, passion for telling schools' stories credited for success

For the fourth straight year, the Southern Westchester BOCES School Communications team has bested its own record in the National School Public Relations Association's Publications and Digital Media Excellence Awards, taking home 24 awards overall, including five first-place honors and two prestigious Golden Achievement Awards - a separate category for impactful and in-depth communications campaigns.

In 2024, the team combined to win 22 NSPRA awards; in 2023, they won 19; in 2022, they won 14; and in 2021, they won 11.

Highlights of Southern Westchester BOCES' showing this year were Public Relations Specialist Anthony DiNoto's two Golden Achievement Awards.

The first was for a project titled "Respect the Game: Public Service Announcement Promoting Sportsmanship in High School Athletics." Produced in partnership with Section I of the New York State Public High School Athletic Association (NYSPHSAA), the PSA came in response to a concerning rise in unsportsmanlike behavior among both spectators and student-athletes. The video delivers a compelling message - delivered in part by student-athletes - about the importance of respect, on and off the field, and clearly defines the expectations for conduct at high school sporting events across the Section.

 The second Golden Achievement Award, shared with Graphic Illustrator Jeffry Braun, came for the Ossining Budget Blueprint Campaign, a multi-media campaign of video, print, digital and related communications efforts in support of what was then the largest capital bond proposal in Westchester County history. Informed by the SWBOCES-led communications campaign, voters approved the proposition with 77% favorability. 

The award winners were announced on May 29 and will be recognized in person at the NSPRA annual conference in Washington, D.C., in July. All contest entries were judged against those from similar organizations from across the country on their overall excellence and comparative quality.

"This multiyear upswing in our recognition at NSPRA is a reflection of the passion and dedication to telling our schools' stories expertly on all media platforms," said Director of Communications Brian Howard. "From traditional written articles to video presentations, sophisticated graphic designs to impactful photography, from publications to social media, we view ourselves as the go-to team in school communications in this region. We set a high bar for ourselves in meeting the needs of our districts. I am grateful for the recognition these awards represent."

Alicia Smith, Public Relations Specialist 

2nd Place Award of Merit
Photo
Regeneron Visit-Static Electricity!

3rd Place Honorable Mention
Photo
Blind Brook Senior Walk 2024

3rd Place Honorable Mention
Excellence in Writing
New Grady Student Leaders Sworn in with Special Ceremony

3rd Place Honorable Mention
Newsletters:
EUFSD Superintendent Newsletter 2025 

3rd Place Honorable Mention
Video Series (with Anthony DiNoto)
Pocantico Perspectives: Investing in Our Future Video 1 | Video 2 | Video 3

Anthony DiNoto, Public Relations Specialist

Golden Achievement Award
Section One Respect the Game Sportsmanship PSA

Golden Achievement Award (with Jeffry Braun)
The Ossining Budget Blueprint Campaign 

2nd Place Award of Merit
Video
Horsemen Pride: A Spotlight on the Public Schools of the Tarrytowns

3rd Place Honorable Mention
Video Series (with Alicia Smith)
Pocantico Perspectives: Investing in Our Future Video 1 | Video 2 | Video 3

Brian Howard, Director of Communications

1st Place Award of Excellence
Photo
Retiring teacher celebrates with 2024 graduate of program for students with multiple disabilities

3rd Place Honorable Mention
Photo
Principal congratulates proud student as Rye Lake Campus Middle-High celebrates student achievement

3rd Place Honorable Mention
Writing
Irvington music students learn to ‘stand by’ one another

3rd Place Honorable Mention
Excellence in Writing
Growing network of partnerships expands work opportunities for students

Natalia Baage, Public Relations Specialist

1st Award of Excellence
Newsletters
Valhalla Voyages Newsletters 2024-25

1st Place Award of Excellence
Calendar
Valhalla Calendar 2024-25

3rd Place Honorable Mention
Social Media
Greeley Sports Instagram 2024-25: Creating Community Support and Engagement

3rd Place Honorable Mention
Social Media
Greeley Senior Spotlights 2024-25: Celebrating our 12th-Grade Leaders

Daniel O'Reilly, Public Relations Specialist

1st Place Award of Excellence
E-Newsletters
Pville Press E-newsletter Issue 1 | Issue 2

1st Place Award of Excellence
E-Newsletters
"Eagle Eye" E-newsletter Issue 1 | Issue 2 

 

Cara Tomao, Public Relations Specialist

3rd Place Honorable Mention
Video
Hastings Homecoming 2024

3rd Place Honorable Mention
Video (with teacher Michael May)
Spotlight on a Career and Technical Education Student

3rd Place Honorable Mention
Photo
Fearless Influencer

3rd Place Honorable Mention
Photo
Flower Girl

Jeffry Braun, Graphic Illustrator

2nd Place Award of Merit
Calendar
Union Free School District of the Tarrytowns Annual Calendar

3rd Place Honorable Mention
Newsletter
Ossining O-Gram Issue 1 | Issue 2

 

NSPRA is the leader in school communication with a mission to advance education through responsible communication. NSPRA’s Publications and Digital Media Awards recognize outstanding education publications and marketing/informational materials (print and electronic), video/TV/radio programs, social media and websites. The submissions are adjudicated by veteran educational communications professionals across the country who have long-standing expertise in the categories they judge.