PRestige Awards

Enter the PRestige Awards

Are you proud of your public relations achievements? Enter your work in the 2026 PRestige Awards.

The PRestige Awards, presented by PRSA Tampa Bay, recognize outstanding public relations programs and tactics by professionals and students. The awards program is open to both PRSA members and non-members anywhere in Florida and across the country. 

Entry Period and Fees

Early Deadline: Wednesday, July 1, 2026

  • PRSA Tampa Bay Member: $60 per entry
  • PRSA Tampa Bay Member at registered 501(c)3 organization*: $50 per entry
  • Nonmember: $80 per entry
  • Students: Free**

Regular Deadline: Monday, Aug. 31, 2026

  • PRSA Tampa Bay Member: $80 per entry
  • PRSA Tampa Bay Member at registered 501(c)3 organization*: $70 per entry
  • Nonmember: $100 per entry
  • Students: Free** 

*Entrants who wish to receive the discounted rate for registered 501(c)3 organizations may be asked to submit their organization's W-9 form, indicating tax-exempt status, to receive the discounted rate.

**All students enter for free and must submit using an “.edu” email address.

Entrants must submit their entry and pay their entry fee online, via PayPal, through the PRSA Tampa Bay system, at https://prsaprestige.secureplatform.com/site/. No hard-copy submittals are accepted. All entry fees are non-refundable, all judges’ decisions are final, and all entries become the property of PRSA Tampa Bay. Any questions about the PRestige Awards program should be sent to [email protected].

View or download the 2026 PRestige Call for Entries for full program rules, category descriptions and more.

About the Awards

PRSA Tampa Bay’s signature award program highlights compelling public relations campaigns and tactics in more than 25 different categories that demonstrate excellence in research, planning, implementation and evaluation. 

Awards given in the PRestige Awards competition include:

  • Award of Commendation: Presented to the top-scoring entry submitted by student members of the Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA).
  • Award of Excellence: Presented to entries meeting the standards of excellence set by the Awards Committee.
  • PRestige Award: To be presented to the top-scoring entry in each category, if the entry meets predetermined criteria of excellence set by the Awards Committee.

  • PRestige Best of Show: Presented to the best PRestige Award-winning entry in the Programs category.

Judging and Scoring

PRestige Awards judging is conducted by qualified industry professionals from a partner PRSA chapter and is based on the following weighted criteria: 

  • Research (25%): The methods used to identify the problem or opportunity and the approaches used.
  • Planning (25%): The objectives and audiences, including any difficulties encountered, with special consideration given to strategy and originality of approach. This should include the effective use of a budget. It is important to include clearly stated, measurable objectives.
  • Execution (25%): Implementation and quality of materials, including writing, and the imaginative and effective use of available public relations tools and techniques.
  • Evaluation (25%): The entrant’s evaluation of the campaign’s success and results in achieving measurable objectives as identified in the planning portion of the campaign. Consideration will be given for the quality of analysis, including efforts made to identify, analyze and quantify results, and any initiatives suggested or taken as a result of this appraisal.

Thank you to the PRSA Greater Fort Lauderdale Chapter for judging the 2026 PRestige Award entries.

2025 PRestige Award Winners

Best of Show

Campaign: Public Service 
Making Waves: Tampa’s Litter Skimmer
City of Tampa

AND

Campaign: Community Relations
Water 101
Southwest Florida Water Management District

PRestige Award Winners

Campaigns

Community Relations (PRestige Award)
Water 101
Southwest Florida Water Management District 

Community Relations (Award of Excellence)

Joy For All: Fairgrounds St. Pete x Tampa International Airport
PRESS PR + Marketing 

Water Conservation and Protection Community Partnership Program
Tampa Bay Water 

Public Service (PRestige Award)
Making Waves: Tampa’s Litter Skimmer
City of Tampa 

Crisis Communications (PRestige Award)
Flooded With Misinformation During Hurricane Milton
Southwest Florida Water Management District 

Crisis Response with Impact: Hurricane Relief Campaign by Pinellas Education Foundation
Pinellas Education Foundation 

Crisis Communications (Award of Excellence)
City of Tampa's Historic Hurricane Clean-up
City of Tampa

Tampa International Airport closes and reopens for Hurricane Milton
Tampa International Airport

Visit St. Pete-Clearwater - Still Shining Campaign
Visit St. Pete-Clearwater

Multicultural and Diversity (PRestige Award)
Block the Pox
KPS3 

Reputation/Brand Management (PRestige Award)
Dickson Realty | NAR Settlement
KPS3 

Tactics

Blogs (PRestige Award)
Empowering First-Generation Success: Edith Dominguez’s Journey Through HCC Spotlight Storytelling
Hillsborough Community College 

Media Relations (PRestige Award)
2024 Florida State Fair
PRESS PR + Marketing 

Aeromexico launches nonstop flights to Mexico City from Tampa International Airport
Tampa International Airport

Media Relations (Award of Excellence)
The Reservoir Refill: Tampa Bay’s Water Savings Account
Tampa Bay Water 

Websites (PRestige Award)
Social Media Accessibility Guidelines
Hillsborough Community College

Websites (Award of Excellence)
Spanish Webpages to better serve Hispanic Student Population
Hillsborough Community College

Video/Long-Form Production (PRestige Award)
Source 1 Solutions Virtual Facility Tour
HCP Associates, Inc. 

For a list of our PRestige Award winners from previous years, please click here.

           

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