Rockwood Communications Team Earns 3 National Awards of Excellence

The Rockwood School District has been recognized by the National School Public Relations Association (NSPRA) for its efforts to inform our community across multiple channels, including three Excellence awards and four Merit awards. 

Each year, more than 100 experienced communication professionals from around the country volunteer to serve as judges in NSPRA's National School Communication Awards contest using a set of established criteria based on industry best practices.

In the 2026 National School Communication Awards, Rockwood earned Excellence awards for two eNewsletters: 5 Things You Need to Know and Rockwood eNews, which represents the combined efforts of the entire Rockwood Communications team – Chief Communications Officer Mary LaPak, coordinator of web services Chris Bennett, communications coordinator David Morrison, senior digital communications specialist Curtis Brennecke, school and community relations specialist Karrie Lehman, communications administrative assistant Katherine Miller, senior webmaster Terra Miller and senior internal communications specialist Andrew Shin – and is produced biweekly by Morrison during the school year for an audience of more than 37,000 Rockwood community members. Shin produces the 5 Things internal newsletter for more than 4,300 Rockwood staff members weekly during the school year.

Rockwood also earned an Excellence award for the “Forward Together” strategic plan website, which was created and is maintained by Terra Miller.

Rockwood earned two of only 70 Excellence awards for Newsletter nationally and four from the state of Missouri.The district earned one of only 54 Excellence awards for Website nationally and four from Missouri.

Rockwood also earned four Merit awards for:

• Photo: “Listening Ears On” (by Bennett) - one of 132 nationally to earn Excellence or Merit and 10 from Missouri
• Video: “Lafayette Junior Earns Awards for his Artwork” and “Selvidge Band Director, Librarian Combine to Help Student Make Music” (by Brennecke) - two of 368 nationally to earn Excellence or Merit and 12 from Missouri
• Website: Rockwood School District Prop 3 Dashboard (by Terra Miller) - one of 81 nationally to earn Excellence or Merit and five from Missouri

“Our team’s multiple national awards speak volumes about their talent and dedication,” LaPak said. “They are fiercely committed to the Rockwood mission, doing phenomenal work every single day keeping our patrons both engaged and informed.”

The Rockwood Communications team’s work is displayed on the NSPRA website and will be honored during the Annual Meeting and Celebration of Achievement at the NSPRA 2026 National Seminar on Sunday, July 19, in New Orleans, Louisiana. Winning entries will also be spotlighted in a display at the Seminar as well as in association member eNewsletters in the coming school year.