Raleigh, N.C. – Sept. 13, 2012 – The Raleigh Public Relations Society recognized local public relations firms and practitioners during its 2012 Sir Walter Raleigh Awards for Excellence in Communication. The awards banquet, held on Sept. 11 at the Cardinal Club, was emceed by Shae Crisson of ABC11 WTVD.

“We were overwhelmed by the quality of the Sir Walter Raleigh Award entries this year,” said Katy Hipp Burgwyn, president, RPRS. “This is a great testament to the fact that Raleigh-Durham is an area recognized for its creative and strategy-driven public relations agencies and practitioners.”

The Sir Walter Raleigh Awards competition is a showcase of exemplary work by public relations and communication professionals throughout North Carolina. The competition is held annually and recognizes projects that have achieved excellence in a variety of categories, as judged by an independent panel of judges. This year’s awards were judged by members of the Sacramento Public Relations Association.

RPRS also presented Queenie Byars with the 2012 Watt Huntley Award for Lifetime Achievement. This award is given annually to an individual who has made meaningful contributions to the field of public relations over the course of a career.

Byars is an assistant professor at the School of Journalism and Mass Communication at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She currently serves as the diversity coordinator for the journalism school, as well as directs the Chuck Stone Program for Diversity in Education and Media. In addition to starting her own firm in Northern Virginia, she previously served as a lieutenant colonel and public affairs officer at the base, major command and Air Staff and the Office of the Secretary of Defense, where she held assignments in Texas, Florida, Honduras, Japan and the Pentagon.

“Queenie’s diverse background in public affairs for the federal government, public relations consulting and diversity work in the university setting made her an excellent candidate,” said Eva Hornak, awards chair, RPRS. “She is truly a remarkable individual, and we were honored to name her the 2012 recipient of the Watt Huntley award.”

Presented in seven divisions, the Sir Walter Raleigh Awards recognized the following winners in 2012:

Best in Division

First Division – Total Communications/Community Relations Campaign
Tony Lama Boots Steps Into a New Century, French/West/Vaughan

Second Division – Publications
Gemesis Diamond Company Media Kit, French/West/Vaughan

Third Division – Public Relations Writing
Inspiring Action, Meredith College

Fourth Division – Interactive Communications
Social Media: Thomasville Furniture, Clairemont Communications

Fifth Division – Audio/Visual Communications
Video and Film: Thomasville Furniture, Clairemont Communications

Sixth Division – More Bang for the Buck
Triangle Family Services 9th Annual Gingerbread Benefit, Clairemont Communications

Seventh Division – Student Entries
Find Your Fortune at Zen Blossom, Ian Peterson, N.C. State University,Campus Enterprises

First Division – Total Communications/Community Relations Campaign

Category 1 – Promotional Campaign for a Product, Program, Topic or Issue

• Gold: Tony Lama Boots Steps Into a New Century, French/West/Vaughan
• Silver: Kangaroo Express Salute Our Troops, Largemouth Communications
• Honorable Mention: Band Together NC, S&A Cherokee

Category 2 – Organizational Identity/Promotion

• Gold: Briar Chapel, Clairemont Communications

Category 5 – Crisis Communications

• Gold: Edenmoor Becomes Walnut Creek, Clairemont Communications
• Gold: Michael Vick: Animal Welfare Advocate, French/West/Vaughan

Category 6 – Miscellaneous Special Events

• Gold: ABB: Huntersville Plant Groundbreaking Event, French/West/Vaughan
• Silver: Dix Visionaries: N.C. Museum of Art Event, French/West/Vaughan
• Honorable Mention: Briar Chapel Earth Day Celebration and Chef Challenge, Clairemont Communications
• Honorable Mention: Cinco de Moe’s Celebration Raises Sales, French/West/Vaughan

Second Division – Publications

Category 7b – Annual or Special Report with Three or More Colors
·         Gold: The Jimmy V Foundation Annual Report, French/West/Vaughan

Category 8b – Brochure, Handbook or Guidebook with Three or More Colors

• Gold: 2011-2012 University Dining Meal Plan Collateral, Campus Enterprises

Category 9b – Newsletter with Three or More Colors
·         Gold: The One Newsletter, French/West/Vaughan

Category 10b – Magazines with Three or More Colors

• Gold: Meredith Magazine, Meredith College
• Honorable Mention: Cary Magazine, S&A Cherokee

Category 11 – Media Kits
·         Gold: Gemesis Diamond Company Media Kit, French/West/Vaughn

Category 12 – Open

• Silver: Harrelson Hall Wall Graphics, Campus Enterprises

Third Division – Public Relations Writing

Category 13 – Opinion/Feature Writing

• Gold: Inspiring Action, Meredith College
• Silver: Confessions of a New Business Owner, Clairemont Communications
• Honorable Mention: Netsertive Article for Dental Entrepreneur Magazine, S&A Cherokee

Category 14 – News Release

• Gold: Talley Renovation and Addition Blog, Campus Enterprises
• Silver: GEAR4’s Angry Bird Speakers Fly Off the Shelves, French/West/Vaughan
• Honorable Mention: Newland’s Humanitarian Award, Clairemont Communications

Fourth Division – Interactive Communications

Category 16 – Website

• Silver: Improved Form & Function for the Jimmy V Foundation Website, French/West/Vaughan
• Honorable Mention: DRA First Friday Website Becomes a Work of Art, French/West/Vaughan

Category 18 – Social Media

• Gold: Social Media: Thomasville Furniture, Clairemont Communications
• Silver: “Your Hometown Jeweler” Campaign, Rick Rountree Communications and Baileys Fine Jewelry
• Honorable Mention: Arian Foster Engages Fans Through Social Media, French/West/Vaughan
• Honorable Mention: Melitta Private Café Collection Escape, French/West/Vaughan
• Honorable Mention: Wrangler Western Grows Facebook Fan Base, French/West/Vaughan

Fifth Division – Audio/Visual Communications

Category 19 – Audio/Visual Presentation

• Silver: Video and Film: Thomasville Furniture, Clairemont Communications

Sixth Division – More Bang for the Buck

Category 22 – Special Event/Campaign

• Gold: Triangle Family Services 9th Annual Gingerbread Benefit, Clairemont Communications
• Silver: Lacrosse Launch, Meredith College
• Honorable Mention: North Carolina’s “New Center of Attention,” French/West/Vaughan

Seventh Division – Student Entries

Category 25 – College

• Gold: Find Your Fortune at Zen Blossom, Ian Peterson of Campus Enterprises

About RPRS:
For more than 50 years, the Raleigh Public Relations Society (RPRS) has advanced the art and science of public relations and strengthened communication, understanding and cooperation among diverse individuals, organizations and institutions throughout the Triangle. The organization regularly hosts professional development opportunities, including monthly meetings and the annual Sir Walter Raleigh Awards banquet, which recognizes the best public relations projects in North Carolina. For more information, visit www.rprs.org.