Rock Hill Schools’ communication team and South Pointe High School were among 139 winners at South Carolina chapter of the National School Public Relations Association annual Rewards for Excellence awards ceremony.

This awards program annually recognizes outstanding communications and public relations efforts by South Carolina schools, school districts, and education agencies and associations. Public relations veterans with extensive experience in educational and business communications evaluated 199 entries.

The Rewards for Excellence Program features three awards programs:  Medallion (for comprehensive public relations programs), Golden Achievement (for a single project or an aspect of a comprehensive program), and Publications and Electronic Media (for individual products designed to improve communication).

For the second consecutive year, South Pointe  was among the honorees for its print marketing entries. Dr. Al Leonard, principal of South Pointe, collected awards for the schools’ advertisement in the 2017 South Carolina High School League Weekend of Championships game program and the 2017 year-in-review advertisement that appeared in The Herald in advance of graduation last spring.

At the district level, the Rock Hill Schools communication team earned seven awards for its on-going effort to strategically share stories of success and compassion through a multitude of communication mediums and platforms.

  • Rock Hill Schools mobile app, the go-to source for news and information about district and school events, was recognized with a Golden Achievement Award. To download, visit the Apple App Store or Google Play.
  • The district website, which has had more than one million visits in the past year, was recognized in the website category.
  • District Calendar and Quick Facts received an award in the publications category.
  • “Thank you, Dr. White” and “Learning in Our Backyard” each received awards in the photography category. “Thank you, Dr. White” captures an emotional embrace between a Sunset Park Center for Accelerated Studies student and principal Dr. Tammy White following a surprise announcement at the school that sent students to a once-in-a-lifetime behind-the-scenes gameday experience at the Carolina Panthers as special guests of Kawann Short. “Learning in Our Backyard” is a photo essay showing Ebenezer Avenue Elementary School principal Chris Beard and students exploring a creek while on a field trip to Rock Hill’s River Park.
  • Rock Hill Schools’ social media platforms – Facebook, Twitter and Instagram – were recognized in the social media category for consistently conveying the district’s brand and image through relevant and current information, photos, and videos.
  • “My Ebinport Family” won in the video category. This video highlights the work of volunteer Wanda Sanders and caring students and staff of Ebinport. Watch the video here.

SC/NSPRA is an affiliate of the National School Public Relations Association. The state chapter is composed of over 141 school public relations practitioners, superintendents, and other educational professionals from across the state. The organization strives to foster development in the field of school public relations and to encourage meaningful community involvement in and understanding of the public school system. Visit www.scnspra.org