Be Part of An Award Winning Team

ASPRA has been named a Blue Ribbon Chapter of the National School Public Relations Association (NSPRA) every year since the chapter was organized, and received the NSPRA Distinguished Chapter Award three times.

25 Years of Excellence
ASPRA one of two state chapters to earn NSPRA Blue Ribbon Award for 25th consecutive year.

Denver -- The Arizona School Public Relations Association was one of only two state chapters affiliated with the National School Public Relations Association (NSPRA) to win the coveted Blue Ribbon Chapter Award for the 25th consecutive year.

ASPRA was joined by the Kansas School Public Relations Association. NSPRA recognized both state chapters for this accomplishment during its annual meeting in July, which coincided with NSPRA's 50th Annual Seminar."Since its inception 25 years ago, only two of our chapters have had the distinct honor of winning a Blue Ribbon Award every year -- Arizona and Kansas," said Chevon Baccus, NSPRA past president. "This is an unprecedented achievement."

The Blue Ribbon Award is given to state chapters for efforts to work toward NSPRA's mission, goals and objectives. Required efforts include: yearly projects to support NSPRA goals; NSPRA membership campaign; serve as public relations counsel to the education community; broaden and expand the number and types of publics with which chapter interrelates; promotion of racial minority membership and cultural diversity; chapter programs which enhance NSPRA's mission to assure lifelong learning by improving education through responsible communication and interpersonal relationships through the adoption of education's Flag of Learning and Liberty; chapter public relations training programs; chapter member contributions to education; and contributions to professional growth. Awards are also given for Distinguished Year-Round Projects and Distinguished Single Projects. ASPRA has been named a distinguished chapter twice.

"We couldn't be more proud," said ASPRA President Nedda Shafir, who also serves as director of community services for the Washington Elementary School District in Phoenix. "As a chapter, we place a high value on the Blue Ribbon Award because it tells us that we are making a significant contribution to education and to the lives of Arizona's children. The fact that we are only one of two chapters to win this award since its inception clearly demonstrates that ASPRA members past and present are among the best practitioners of school public relations in the nation.