Jill Vaughan is introduced as this year’s Excellence in Public Relations award recipient at Thursday’s ceremony. (Jonathan Spiers photo)
Standout PR work and practitioners were on exhibit Thursday evening at the Institute for Contemporary Art at VCU, where this year’s Virginia Public Relations Awards presented top honors to campaigns including those for the state library and a local church.
The Public Relations Society of America’s Richmond chapter hosted the 77th annual awards, which were announced earlier in the day at a luncheon at The Westwood Club and followed by a reception and ceremony at the ICA.
Jill Vaughan
Best-in-show awards went to the Library of Virginia for its campaign for its 200th anniversary, and to Commonwealth PR for its work for Grace & Holy Trinity Church’s Hope for Ukraine concert.
Jill Vaughan, owner of JLV Communications, received this year’s Excellence in Public Relations award, recognizing achievements of seasoned PR professionals in the region. The Virginia Tech alum and former PRSA Richmond president launched JLV in 2019 after 15 years as communications director at Virginia Lottery and eight years in a similar role at Virginia Economic Development Partnership.
Jason Lee
The Rising Star Award, presented to those with fewer than five years in the field, went to Jason Lee, marketing manager for the economic development group Greater Richmond Partnership. The Virginia Commonwealth University alum with a master’s in strategic communications from Rowan University serves as DEI chair for PRSA Richmond.
Taya Jarman
New this year, the Shining Star Award for mid-level career achievement was presented to Taya Jarman, communications director for the Institute for Public Health Innovation. Last year’s chapter president, Jarman previously worked 15 years in communications roles for state government agencies including the Health and Motor Vehicles departments.
Dozens more awards were presented in various categories, with entries taken for local, statewide, national and global campaigns from government entities, nonprofits, corporations, PR agencies and independent practitioners. PRSA’s Georgia chapter judged this year’s competition.
Local campaigns that were recognized included: The Hodges Partnership/Virginia Spirits Board Marketing Office for “Introducing the Virginia Spirits Guide”; Tiramisu for Breakfast for “Hearts of Golden Arches: Serving the community through name image likeness with McDonald’s and the UVA Cavaliers”; Elevation for “Power Gen Pre-Roll Series”; and Padilla for “Richmond Region Tourism – Speaks for Itself.”
Other local recipients included Capital One, Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU, Hodges Partnership, Luck Cos., Martin Agency, MCV Foundation, RideFinders, Science Museum of Virginia, Soar365, University of Richmond, VCU, VCU Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center, Virginia DMV, Virginia Lottery, and the Virginia departments of Forestry and of Rail and Public Transportation.
Jill Vaughan is introduced as this year’s Excellence in Public Relations award recipient at Thursday’s ceremony. (Jonathan Spiers photo)
Standout PR work and practitioners were on exhibit Thursday evening at the Institute for Contemporary Art at VCU, where this year’s Virginia Public Relations Awards presented top honors to campaigns including those for the state library and a local church.
The Public Relations Society of America’s Richmond chapter hosted the 77th annual awards, which were announced earlier in the day at a luncheon at The Westwood Club and followed by a reception and ceremony at the ICA.
Jill Vaughan
Best-in-show awards went to the Library of Virginia for its campaign for its 200th anniversary, and to Commonwealth PR for its work for Grace & Holy Trinity Church’s Hope for Ukraine concert.
Jill Vaughan, owner of JLV Communications, received this year’s Excellence in Public Relations award, recognizing achievements of seasoned PR professionals in the region. The Virginia Tech alum and former PRSA Richmond president launched JLV in 2019 after 15 years as communications director at Virginia Lottery and eight years in a similar role at Virginia Economic Development Partnership.
Jason Lee
The Rising Star Award, presented to those with fewer than five years in the field, went to Jason Lee, marketing manager for the economic development group Greater Richmond Partnership. The Virginia Commonwealth University alum with a master’s in strategic communications from Rowan University serves as DEI chair for PRSA Richmond.
Taya Jarman
New this year, the Shining Star Award for mid-level career achievement was presented to Taya Jarman, communications director for the Institute for Public Health Innovation. Last year’s chapter president, Jarman previously worked 15 years in communications roles for state government agencies including the Health and Motor Vehicles departments.
Dozens more awards were presented in various categories, with entries taken for local, statewide, national and global campaigns from government entities, nonprofits, corporations, PR agencies and independent practitioners. PRSA’s Georgia chapter judged this year’s competition.
Local campaigns that were recognized included: The Hodges Partnership/Virginia Spirits Board Marketing Office for “Introducing the Virginia Spirits Guide”; Tiramisu for Breakfast for “Hearts of Golden Arches: Serving the community through name image likeness with McDonald’s and the UVA Cavaliers”; Elevation for “Power Gen Pre-Roll Series”; and Padilla for “Richmond Region Tourism – Speaks for Itself.”
Other local recipients included Capital One, Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU, Hodges Partnership, Luck Cos., Martin Agency, MCV Foundation, RideFinders, Science Museum of Virginia, Soar365, University of Richmond, VCU, VCU Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center, Virginia DMV, Virginia Lottery, and the Virginia departments of Forestry and of Rail and Public Transportation.