NFPW has announced the winners of the 2026 national communications contest, and 18 VPC members received 18 national awards, including three first-place awards.

National winners will be recognized at the 2026 NFPW Conference in Ellicott City, Maryland, on September 26. 

Virginia’s winners include:

Jessica Broaddus, Jennifer Kinne, Marge Swayne, Alex Veatch, Virginia

• 1st Place — Web and Social Media > 37 – Blog > 37B – Corporate or for-profit for “Green Front’s Guide to the Best American-Made Furniture: Part 1 (2025 Picks + Forever Favorites)”

Catherine Brown, Virginia

• 3rd Place — Writing > 07 – Specialty Articles > 07M – Health for “Are mental illnesses brain diseases?”

Julie Campbell, Virginia

• Honorable Mention — Writing > 08 – Columns > 08A – General for “President’s Message”

Carrie Douglass, Virginia

• 2nd Place — Writing > Nonfiction Book for Adult Readers > 12B – Biography or History for “The Horses of Monticello: Equine Culture in Thomas Jefferson’s Virginia”

Laura Fortunato, Virginia

• 2nd Place — Writing > 07 – Specialty Articles > 07D – Education for “Thirty Years of Navigating the Future”

Karyn Keane, Alexandra Veatch, Mike Eberly, Virginia

• 3rd Place — Social Media Presence > 39A – Nonprofit, government or educational for “The Harvest Foundation │Social Media Presence”

Patty Kruszewski, Virginia

• Honorable Mention — Writing > 07 – Specialty Articles > 07I – History for “Near his Henrico foaling site, Boston gets his due”
• 3rd Place — Writing > 08 – Columns > 08C – Informational for “Plate & Goblet: Lotte Lovers, tortillas, & Veganuary”

Jennifer Lo Prete, Sunni Brown, Virginia

• Honorable Mention — Public Relations Materials > 51 – Report for “Annual Report for the School of Arts & Sciences”

Jennifer Lo Prete, Virginia

• 3rd Place — Communications Programs and Campaigns > 49 – Marketing Program or Campaign for “2025 Italian Film Festival”

Kyra Newman, Virginia

• 3rd Place — Writing > 04 – Editorial/Op-Ed for “Housing is the Hinge for the Alleghany Highlands’ Next Chapter”
• Honorable Mention — Electronic Newsletter > 40A – Nonprofit, government, or educational for “SkillsUSA Massachusetts Quarterly Newsletter”

Ann Oppenhimer, Virginia

• Honorable Mention — Publication Regularly Edited by Entrant > 19C – Newsletter/other publication – non-profit, government, or educational for “Folk Art Messenger #116”

Cherika Ruffin, Virginia

• Honorable Mention — Web and Social Media > 38 – Social Media Campaign > 38A – Nonprofit, government or educational for “RideFinders Monday Mug Moment”

Martha Steger, Virginia

• 1st Place — Writing > 07 – Specialty Articles > 07T – Travel for “The Apple of Virginia’s Eye”
• Honorable Mention — Writing > 07 – Specialty Articles > 07K – Obituary for “Remembrances of Chef Paul Plus His Sauce Vinaigrette”

Jill Vaughan, Virginia

• 1st Place — Communications Programs and Campaigns > 46 – Public Relations Campaign > 46C – Integrated Communications for “Uniting the Alleghany Highlands: A Regional Plan for Better Housing”

Beth Wiltshire, Virginia

• Honorable Mention — Writing > Books, Short Stories, Verse > 16 – Creative Verse > 16A – Single poem for “Kindness”

You can view the state-level results here: 2026 Communications Contest State-Level Results.