Pictured here are Garden City’s Coordinator of Public Information, Catherine Knight, and keynote speaker National School Public Relations (NSPRA) Northeast Vice President, James Van Develde. Garden City has been recognized for outstanding achievement in educational communications by the New York School Public Relations Association (NYSPRA). Award-winning recipients in NYSPRA’s 30th-Annual Communications Awards were honored on October 16, 2009, at the annual NYSPRA Awards Luncheon held in conjunction with the 2009 New York State School Boards Association Convention in New York, NY.

Garden City Public Schools received three awards: the On The Line Newsletter received an Award of Excellence (the only district on Long Island to receive NYSPRA’s highest award in this category), and two different photographs accompanying news releases received an Award of Honor (Conceptual Science Program) and an Award of Merit (Pep Rally) respectively. With more than 400 entries in 14 categories from across New York State, the 2009 contest was a closely drawn competition.

“This year’s winners should feel especially proud of their awards which recognize excellence in school communications,” said Marcia Kelley, NYSPRA President and School Information Officer of the East Syracuse-Minoa Central School District. “Entries were judged by a distinguished panel of professionals from around the country. The judging was very competitive, with only one-third of all entries receiving awards.”