About the Crystal Awards

PRSA WV’s Crystal Awards celebrates the campaign and tactics work of West Virginia’s public relations practitioners, agencies, and college students. Work entered by West Virginia practitioners or agencies can be for any client or employer, not just those based in West Virginia; work done for West Virginia-based companies, or companies doing business in West Virginia, may be submitted by out-of-state agencies or practitioners.

The campaign or tactic must take place from January 1, 2025 to March 30, 2026. Anyone can enter — advertising and public relations firms, practitioners, government agencies, law firms, hospitals, large and small businesses, colleges and universities, non-profits, political campaigns, associates, chambers of commerce, convention and visitors bureaus, college and university students.

Learn How to Format Your Entry Here: Application Instructions 

The Crystal Awards accept awards for the following award groups:

  • Business and Industry - All for-profit organizations. Agency self-promotion work should be entered in this Award Group.

  • Not-for-Profit - Includes all health and welfare organizations, government agencies, public schools, and not-for-profit groups including associations, chambers of commerce and military organizations.

  • Pro Bono - Any work provided by an agency or practitioner to a client without charging for time or services. While there may be costs associated with the project in the form of creative, placement, production, etc., there can be no cash or in-kind payment to the agency or practitioner for work performed. Pro Bono entries should be submitted by the individual or group who did the work, not the individual or group who benefited from the work.

  • Higher Education- Any higher education institution, department, or unit. 

  • Student - Any public relations, advertising or marketing work performed by college students or college class projects. PRSSA membership is not required. College and university faculty and administrators can submit work performed by students under their supervision; working professionals can enter work performed by college interns under their supervision, or students can enter individually. West Virginia natives attending school out-of-state, or any students who did an internship with a West Virginia agency or business may enter. Student entries are FREE for PRSSA chapters and PRSSA members. 

SUBMIT YOUR AWARDS HERE

Early Bird- APRIL 15 - June 15

Pricing:

  • $60 for PRSA members
  • $85 for non-PRSA members
  • PRSSA Students are Free

After June 15

Pricing:

  • $85 for PRSA members
  • $100 for non-PRSA members
  • PRSSA Students are Free

Final Deadline: JULY 15, 2026

Campaign Award Judging Rubric:https://www.dropbox.com/s/0q26l7f5v55lu0l/PRSA-Judging-Criteria_Campaigns.pdf?dl=0

Tactic Award Judging Rubric: https://www.dropbox.com/s/tx038fqjbahiqbl/PRSA-Judging-Criteria_Tactics.pdf?dl=0