For its excellence in communications, the Pasadena ISD Communications Department recently received five Best of Category Awards, a Crystal Award and six Gold Star Awards at the annual Texas Schools Public Relations Association (TSPRA) convention in Houston.

Award entries were made in 35 categories with three divisions including districts and organizations with less than 10,000 students or members, 10,000 to 30,000 students or members, and more than 30,000 students or members. More than 900 award entries were submitted for this year’s Star Awards.

Pasadena ISD Communications Specialist Mark Kramer and Pasadena ISD Graphic Coordinator Bruce Stone received a best of category for their work on the 2007 Service Awards Program. Kramer has been a member of TSPRA for nine years and has served in several capacities for the organization including Vice-President At-Large from 2005-2007.

“We are excited about the wonderful recognition we’ve received from TSPRA,” Kramer said. “It is always a great feeling when you are honored by your peers who are outstanding and talented professionals in school communications.”

Stone also received a best of category for his Rick Schneider Middle School invitations for the school’s dedication, and he and the district’s director of community relations Cindy Parmer received a best of category on the booklet they published for last year’s Pasadena ISD Education Foundation/Dell Shining Stars Gala. Stone joined the communications team in October 2006.

“We always do our work with the students and employees of the district in mind,” Stone said. “We want to deliver materials for them that illustrate the hard work they do on a daily basis within our classrooms and that illustrate the mission of this district. I’m truly honored to have received these awards.”

Pasadena ISD Graphic Designer LaVonna Alexander-Carew joined TSPRA in January 2006 when she began working for the district, and she earned a best of category for the logo she created for Earnesteen Milstead Middle School. This was her first year to attend a TSPRA conference.

“It is an honor for me to be recognized through such a wonderful organization,” said Alexander-Carew. “In designing on a daily basis, I never considered receiving accolades for my work. When I created the Milstead, logo I was thinking of the student who would be carrying the backpack or wearing the t-shirt with the logo, and I wanted to create something they would be proud of. This award reinforces that I did just that.”

Pasadena ISD Communications Assistant Ashley Holt received a best of category for her published feature “A Dream Fulfilled” about Beverly Hills Intermediate School’s former orchestra instructor Leigh Ledford who led her students to perform at the national Midwest Clinic in Chicago before losing her battle with cancer.

“It is absolutely amazing to be recognized among our peers in this way,” Holt said. “Our department works year-round to promote Pasadena ISD and to serve its employees and students, and it is truly an honor to have our success recognized. We couldn’t do it without the leadership within our district and department, the support of our print shop employees or the dedication of our teachers and students.”

Holt has been a member of TSPRA for more than two years and has attended three conferences. This is her second best of category since her membership, and she was also named as the organization’s 2007 Rookie of the Year. She also presented twice at this year’s conference for the first time and has served on several conference committees.

The department also received a Crystal Award, which one is given in seven different categories for a multifaceted promotional campaign employing a variety of media occurring over a period of time and encompassing well-defined goals, strategies or activities. The department submitted last year’s marketing campaign “Join us Under the Big Top” in the staff and student recognition category.

“I am extremely proud of our communications and printing department for their hard work,” said Pasadena ISD Associate Superintendent of Communications Candace Ahlfinger. “They are creative and detail oriented, and their positive teamwork is reflected in these awards and in what they do on a daily basis.”

Ahlfinger joined Pasadena ISD in August 2006 and has been a member of TSPRA for 14 years. She is a past-president and has served the organization in a variety of ways.

The employees of the printing department helped make the success possible through their daily efforts. Print shop employees include Mike Kravetz, Maria Alcala, Rachel Arevalo, Rosie Lopez, Christine Luis, Gwen Nguyen, Cody O’Quinn, Joan Stanley and Van Thu To.

“Our printing department is vital to our communications team,” said Kramer. “They handle every task with extreme care and detail and are a main source of service and support to our campuses.”

Gold Star Awards were also given to Kramer, Holt, Ahlfinger and Stone for the district’s external newsletter “Pinnacle;” Alexander-Carew for Laura Bush Elementary School dedication invitations; and Stone and Holt for their Pasadena Virtual School poster.

Holt also received Gold Star Awards for her article “Going the Extra Mile” about the districts fundraising efforts for the Komen Houston Race for the Cure and for her article “Engineering Design Students Step into the Real World” on Dobie High School students’ mentoring program with Jacobs Engineering. The department also received a Gold Star Award for its image and identity package “Under the Big Top of Pasadena ISD.” Kramer received a Silver Star Award for photography.

“These awards are a tribute to the hard work of our communications staff,” Kramer said. “At the heart of any project, it is the mission of our staff to promote what’s right in public education and spreading that good news to the public.”

TSPRA is a nonprofit, professional organization dedicated to promoting public schools through effective communications with more than 850 members comprised primarily of public information and communications professionals who serve the public school districts and education organizations of Texas. The membership also includes superintendents, principals and other school administrators. TSPRA is an award-winning chapter of the National School Public Relations Association chartered in 1962.