Virginia Professional Communicators Announces Winners of 2022 State Communications Awards Contest; 1st Place Winners Compete Nationally

Richmond, Virginia — Winners of the Virginia Professional Communicators 2022 Communications Contest were announced on April 30, 2022, at VPC’s spring conference, held in Richmond.

VPC’s first-place winners have advanced to the contest of the National Federation of Press Women, of which VPC is an affiliate. Those national winners will be announced on June 25, 2022, at NFPW’s annual conference, to be held this year in Fargo, North Dakota.

2022 State Contest winners include:

Nancy Wright Beasley

First Place

Web and Social Media > Electronic Newsletter > Nonprofit, government, or educational

News from Nancy Wright Beasley: Turmoil and Triumph in 2021

Jessica Broaddus

Second Place

Web and Social Media > Blog > Nonprofit, government or educational

Visit Farmville: It’s a Small Town Christmas Giveaway

Sunni Brown

First Place

Information for the Media > Media Pitch

University of Richmond expert on Latin American politics discusses Chile presidential election

Michele Cook

First Place

Writing > Specialty Articles > Agriculture (agribusiness, aquaculture)

When Hens Stop Laying

Second Place

Writing > Columns > General

VPC President’s Column

Frances Broaddus Crutchfield

Second Place

Writing > Books, Short Stories, Verse > Creative Verse > Single poem

To Us on the Cusp of 80

Melissa Face

Second Place

Writing > Feature Story > Magazine, newsletter/other publication

What Antiracism Looks Like: Raising Culturally Responsive Kids

Honorable Mention

Writing > Feature Story > Magazine, newsletter/other publication

Women Building Ships

Megan George and Kristina Kerton-Eisele

First Place

Communications Programs and Campaigns > Marketing Program or Campaign

RISE Collaborative Branding and Marketing Plan

Virginia Johnson

First Place

Writing > Books, Short Stories, Verse > Nonfiction Book for Adult Readers > Biography or History

Virginia Honey: A Sweet History

Beth JoJack

First Place

Writing > Feature Story > Magazine, newsletter/other publication

The Green and Gold of Ossabaw Island

Gail Kent

First Place

Public Relations Materials > Report

The Muse Writers Center Report to the Community

Honorable Mention

Writing > Personality Profile > More than 500 words

Building a Better Future: Louis Haddad, CEO and President of Armada Hoffler Properties, Voted TOP CEO and Best Local Leader Making a Difference

Kristina Kerton-Eisele

First Place

Communications Programs and Campaigns > Public Relations Campaign

Moton Live Public Relations Campaign

Patty Kruszewski

First Place

Writing > Specialty Articles > Social issues

Toolkit Provides Strategies for Supporting Youth

Second Place

Writing > Feature Story > Online publication

Cycling advocate Vye recognized as Richmond History Maker

Second Place

Writing > Specialty Articles > Business

Short Pump restaurants tout unique models

Third Place

Writing > Feature Story > Online publication

Putting the Play in Playhouse

Honorable Mention

Writing > Feature Story > Online publication

Nonprofit helps couples get from striving to thriving

Honorable Mention

Writing > Specialty Articles > Physical health (fitness, diet, clean lifestyle)

At Regency site, things are going swimmingly

Kim Loehr

First Place

Writing > Specialty Articles > Food

Spirited Cooking: A Beginner’s Guide to Cooking with Alcohol

First Place

Information for the Media > News or Feature Release – Single Release

Lightning, Tragedy and Lessons Learned about Lightning Safety and Awareness: A look back at one of lightning’s deadliest strikes

Second Place

Graphics and Design > Graphics > Infographics

DEHN Company Profile Infographic

Melodie Martin

First Place

Writing > Headlines

Ann Oppenhimer

First Place

Writing > Specialty Articles > Obituary (expanded from a regular obituary)

Jean-Claude Caire, 1933-2020: Memories of Our Friendship

First Place

Writing > Columns > Personal opinion (bylined, not editorial)

Message from the Executive Director #103 and Message from Executive Director #104

First Place

Web and Social Media > Website Edited or Managed by Entrant > Nonprofit, government or educational

Folk Art Society of America Website

First Place

Web and Social Media > Social Media Presence > Nonprofit, government or educational

Folk Art Society of America Facebook Page

Second Place

Writing > Specialty Articles > Obituary (expanded from a regular obituary)

Obituary: Carl “Spike” Knuth: 1944-2020

Second Place

Editing for Print or Online Publications > Publication Regularly Edited by Entrant > Magazine/Magapaper

Folk Art Messenger

Devin Reese

First Place

Writing > Feature Story > Online publication

One Loggerhead Turtle’s 30-Year Journey

Karen Schwartzkopf

First Place

Editing for Print or Online Publications > Publication Regularly Edited by Entrant > Magazine/Magapaper

Richmond Family Magazine (September/October 2021)

Third Place

Writing > Columns > General

Moms Need a Grace Period & The One About Breastfeeding

Pamela Stallsmith

First Place

Writing > Editorial/Opinion

Year-round school is worth exploring

Second Place

Writing > Editorial/Opinion

The importance of civics education

Third Place

Writing > Editorial/Opinion

The ‘pandemic wall’

Martha Steger

First Place

Writing > Specialty Articles > Physical health

Happy Holidays? Handling Anxiety and Stress

First Place

Writing > Books, Short Stories, Verse > Creative Verse > Single poem

Pop’s Figs

First Place

Writing > Specialty Articles > Personal essay

Going for the Digital Gold?

First Place

Writing > Specialty Articles > Travel

The Carolina Connection

First Place

Web and Social Media > Blog > Nonprofit, government or educational

Old 96 District: Roads Less Traveled

Second Place

Writing > Specialty Articles > Food

Freedmen Communities and Chef Edna Lewis

Second Place

Writing > Specialty Articles > Physical health 

Plan ahead to pay for long-term care

Honorable Mention

Writing > Specialty Articles > Agriculture (agribusiness, aquaculture)

One Lucky Lobster

Joan Tupponce

Note: Tupponce won VPC’s Sweepstakes Award for Most Entries Placing 1st, 2nd, and 3rd

First Place

Writing > Personality Profile > More than 500 words

Combat veteran and VCU Nursing student charts new path to connect with people and help them heal

First Place

Writing > Specialty Articles > Education

The Basics: Helping Preschoolers Engage!

First Place

Writing > Columns > General

Entrepreneur Sheila Johnson Celebrates the African Diaspora and David Waltenbaugh, Mental Wellness, and Innovative Tech

Second Place

Writing > Personality Profile > More than 500 words

She’s a Christmas Star

Second Place

Writing > Specialty Articles > History

‘A painful chapter in our nation’s history’: New class to shed light on Indigenous boarding schools

Third Place

Writing > Personality Profile > More than 500 words

Filmmaker, storyteller, neuroscientist: Charlotte Wincott’s latest project is a reflection of her many skills

Third Place

Writing > Feature Story > Magazine, newsletter/other publication

Medicine for the Soul

Third Place

Writing > Specialty Articles > Arts and entertainment

Actor and alum Zachary Knighton on origins, fatherhood and Magnum P.I.

Sheila Wickouski

First Place

Writing > Specialty Articles > Arts and entertainment

Escape to “Clouds, Ice and Bounty” at National Gallery of Art

Honorable Mention

Writing > Specialty Articles > Arts and entertainment

Women Behaving Badly: 400 years of Power and Protest in Art

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Virginia Professional Communicators is a statewide organization of professional women and men pursuing careers across the communications spectrum.