SWBOCES Earns Two Top State Communications Awards

The Southern Westchester BOCES communications team won two Awards of Excellence from the New York School Public Relations Association in its annual contest.

Communications Specialist Natalia Baage won on behalf of the Valhalla Union Free School District in NYSPRA’s 43rd annual Communications Competition for her high-quality quarterly print newsletter publications and community-building Facebook page. The competition celebrates superior achievement in educational communications throughout the state. Entries are adjudicated by experts in the field throughout the nation.

The “Social Media” award was granted for the curation of “Celebrating Viking Spirit through Valhalla’s Facebook Page.” It highlighted the Facebook page as an uplifting storytelling tool with the inherent goal of creating pride within the district. It encourages community members to honor all Valhalla students and staff members, and gives residents a peek inside the classrooms. Ms. Baage was one of only two in New York State to win this award.

The “Community Newsletter” award was granted for the content, design, narration and effectiveness of the district’s printed newsletters - Valhalla Voyages - during the 2021-22 academic year. Ms. Baage was one of only three in New York State to win this award.

“Natalia has long distinguished herself as a school communications leader in our region and statewide,” said SWBOCES Director of Communications Brian Howard. “Her demonstration of best practices in social media engagement make her an asset to the districts she supports, while the newsletters she produces are a service to their communities. These honors come as no surprise and are a real point of pride for our entire SWBOCES Communications team.”

These state awards were earned in addition to 14 others won from the National School Public Relations Association’s Publications and Digital Media Excellence Awards in June. The national awards were won by Mr. Howard, Ms. Baage, Public Relations Specialist Alicia Smith and Graphic Illustrator Jeffry Braun.

NYSPRA will honor the winners at its celebratory luncheon during the New York State School Boards Association’s annual conference in Syracuse on Oct. 28.