Awards and Recognition

The Paragon Awards
NCMPR's prestigious Paragon Awards recognize outstanding achievement in communications at community, junior and technical colleges. It's the only national competition of its kind that exclusively honors excellence among marketing and PR professionals at two-year colleges. Entry guidelines and deadlines are announced in the annual call for entries, which is available in late summer. Winners are announced each year at the national conference; their work is showcased at AACC national conferences; and an awards brochure is distributed to community college presidents nationwide.

The Medallion Awards
The Medallion Awards are similar to the Paragon Awards, except that they are given at the district level. Entry guidelines and deadlines are announced by the districts, usually in the summer. District winners are announced at the annual district conferences, held in the fall.

Click here to visit the district pages.

Communicator of the Year
One of the most celebrated awards given to an NCMPR member, the Communicator of the Year Award honors a two-year college marketing professional who has demonstrated special leadership or ability in college communications. It is awarded annually in each of NCMPR's seven districts, and district recipients automatically become a nominee for the national award, which is presented at the national conference.

2008 Communicator of the Year

Pacesetter of the Year
The Pacesetter of the Year Award recognizes a community college president or CEO who has demonstrated special leadership and support in marketing and public relations. It is awarded annually in each of NCMPR's seven districts, and district recipients automatically become a nominee for the national award, which is presented at the national conference.

2008 Pacesetter of the Year.

D. Richard Petrizzo Award
Named after the award's first recipient and a former NCMPR president who helped shape the organization in its early years, the D. Richard Petrizzo Award for Career Achievement honors an NCMPR professional for career accomplishments in college marketing and public relations. It is presented by the NCMPR board of directors at the national conference.

2008 D. Richard Petrizzo Award

President's Award
The President's Award is among the highest distinctions given to an individual or organization that has made extraordinary contributions to the community college movement on a regional or national basis, particularly in the areas of marketing and public relations. It is presented at the national conference.

Professional Development Scholarships
Professional development scholarships are awarded at both the national and district levels. They are designed to help offset the cost for deserving NCMPR professionals to attend district and national conferences. The criteria for awarding these scholarships vary, but in general they are targeted for brand-new members of NCMPR, practitioners who are new to their community college jobs, and even seasoned professionals.