Sycamore Community School District 427 Communications & Community Engagement Department Wins NSPRA Golden Achievement Award

Sycamore Community School District 427 is proud to announce that its Communications & Community Engagement Department has been honored with the National School Public Relations Association (NSPRA) Golden Achievement Award for the Portrait of a Spartan Communications Campaign. 

This is the second national award the district has earned for its Portrait of a Spartan Communications Campaign during the 2024-25 school year. Earlier this spring, the campaign received a Gold Telly Award in the 2025 Non-Broadcast Video Series Campaign category for Educational Institutions.

The Golden Achievement Award recognizes exemplary work in all aspects of school public relations, communication, marketing, and engagement. The Portrait of a Spartan Monthly Video Series was created to highlight and reinforce the district’s graduate profile, which outlines eight essential dispositions: Problem-Solvers, Effective Communicators, Empathetic, Flexible Thinkers, Collaborative, Confident, Resilient, and Responsible.

“Our Communications & Community Engagement Department has done an outstanding job bringing the Portrait of a Spartan to life. Their creativity and hard work highlight the best of our students, staff, and community, and this national recognition is a testament to this and all of their great work,” said Mr. Nick Reineck, Interim Superintendent.

Throughout the 2024-25 school year, the Communications & Community Engagement Department partnered with Green Closet Creative and Sycamore High School alumnus, Milo Barsanti-Gonzalez of Bear & Camera, to produce a professional, high-quality series featuring students and staff from every school in the district. Each month, a new video was released to showcase one of the eight dispositions. The campaign reached families and community members through email, the district website, social media, and a dedicated landing page.

“This recognition is a testament to the powerful story we are telling about what it means to be a Spartan in our district,” said Mrs. Lauren Holtz, Director of Communications & Community Engagement. “It’s a true honor to see our work recognized.”

To learn more about the Portrait of a Spartan, please visit the district’s website. To access the full list of national Golden Achievement winners, please visit the NSPRA's website.