The School District of Pickens County (SDPC) is proud to announce that it has received 30 awards from both the South Carolina Chapter and the National School Public Relations Association (NSPRA) for outstanding communication efforts. This remarkable achievement places SDPC among the top-performing districts in the state, earning the second-highest number of awards in South Carolina.

The recognitions were presented during the 2025 SCNSPRA Rewards for Excellence celebration, which honors school districts and education agencies for exceptional public relations, marketing, and engagement work. This year’s competition included more than 390 entries, judged by public relations professionals from across the country.

Ten SDPC schools were honored, along with the SDPC Work-Based Learning Program and the district-level Communications Department. Schools recognized include:

Dacusville Elementary
D.W. Daniel High
Easley High
Forest Acres Elementary
Gettys Middle
Liberty Elementary
Liberty Primary
McKissick Academy of Science and Technology
R.C. Edwards Middle
West End Elementary

In addition to the 29 state-level awards, SDPC also received a Golden Achievement Award at the national level from NSPRA for the communication plan supporting the SDPC Work-Based Learning Program. That nationally recognized entry was created by Anna Esuary, Work-Based Learning Facilitator, and Caroline Morris, Marketing & Communications Specialist.

“This recognition at both the state and national levels speaks to the incredible work happening every day across our district,” said Dr. Darian Byrd, SDPC Chief Communications Officer. “We are proud not only of the awards earned by our Communications Department, but especially of the fact that ten different schools and our Work-Based Learning Program contributed to this success. That kind of representation reflects our shared commitment to clear, creative, and consistent communication throughout the entire school system.”

The SCNSPRA Rewards for Excellence program features three categories of recognition:

Publications and Digital Media Excellence Awards – For high-quality print and digital materials such as newsletters, videos, websites, and social media campaigns.
Golden Achievement Awards – For strategic projects that demonstrate thoughtful planning and measurable impact.
Gold Medallion Awards – For comprehensive communication programs grounded in strategic best practices.

Over the past four years, SDPC has earned 85 state-level recognitions and four national-level awards for its communication and marketing work. The SDPC Communications Department is led by Dr. Darian Byrd, Joy Ellison, Coordinator of School Promotion and Communications Development, and Caroline Morris, Marketing & Communications Specialist.

To learn more about SCNSPRA, visit www.scnspra.org, or view the full list of 2025 national NSPRA award winners here.

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West End Elementary School

SDPC Earns 30 State and National Awards for Communication Excellence