Call for Nominations: 2026 Thoroughbred Chapter Awards
Nomination Deadline: Monday, Aug. 17 | 5 p.m. ET
.Awards Ceremony: Thursday, Sept. 24 | 6 p.m. ET | Carson’s at Andover | 3450 Todds Road, Suite 100, Lexington
The PRSA Thoroughbred Chapter is now accepting nominations for its 2026 Awards, which recognize outstanding work and leadership in the field of public relations and communications throughout Central and Eastern Kentucky. We invite you to nominate deserving professionals in six categories.
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You can check out the 2025 award winners here.
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Award Categories
One winner will be named in each of the six award categories. (See below for details about the nomination process.)
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Lifetime Achievement Award
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Communicator of the Year Award
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Career Achievement Award
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Communications Impact Award
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Rising Star Award
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Outstanding Student Award
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Eligibility
You can nominate yourself or a professional whose work deserves to be showcased among communications professionals in the Lexington and Central/Eastern Kentucky area.
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Judging Process
Entries will be judged by past presidents and current board members of the Thoroughbred Chapter, all of whom are accomplished communications professionals.
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Following the deadline, judges will review all submitted nominations. Results will be based on whether the entry meets the eligibility requirements and provides relevant information for the nomination criteria. Each entry will be scored via a rubric method and tallied. The nomination receiving the top score in its category will be the recipient recommended and submitted to the Thoroughbred Chapter Board.
Award Categories
New this year: Tom L. Preston Lifetime Achievement Award
The Tom L. Preston Lifetime Achievement Award, the chapter’s first named honor, recognizes a career of extraordinary impact, integrity and leadership in the field of public relations. The award is named in honor of Tom L. Preston, a founding member of the PRSA Thoroughbred Chapter and one of Kentucky’s most distinguished communications professionals. Preston’s career has been defined by excellence in practice, a deep commitment to ethical leadership and a lasting influence on generations of practitioners across the region and beyond. The Tom L. Preston Lifetime Achievement Award will be presented annually to an individual whose career reflects the highest standards of the profession and a measurable, lasting impact on the communities they serve. This award recognizes a practitioner with at least 25 years in the profession.
Communicator of the Year Award
Someone who is not a public relations professional but who did an outstanding job of communicating during the past year.
Career Achievement Award
Someone who is a current member of the PRSA Thoroughbred Chapter or has been a member within the last five years, with more than 15 years of experience who has a demonstrated commitment to excellence.
Communications Impact Award
Someone at the mid-level range in their career, doing outstanding work in the profession, with five to 15 years of public relations/communications experience.
Rising Star Award
Someone new to the field, with two to five years in a public relations or communications role.
Outstanding Student Award
Someone currently enrolled in college and practicing public relations/communications, including through an internship or involvement in an organization like PRSSA.
Award Criteria
Please follow this nomination process for each of the six award categories:
Nominees should demonstrate an ongoing and sustained commitment to delivering best practices while showing a creative and innovative approach. Please provide up to a 300-word response to each of the four criterion:
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1. Recent work example/s (1-10 points)
Provide details of recent work. How does the nominee's recent work display creativity? How has this work positively impacted the nominee's organization or community?
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2. Recent achievements (1-10 points)
What makes the nominee stand out? Please include details.
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3. Any challenges faced and how these were overcome (1-10 points)
What challenges were unique to the nominee and how were they overcome? What was the end result of overcoming these challenges? Tell a story.
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4. Why should nominee win? (1-10 points)
Show the judges what makes this nominee award winning. What makes the nominee unique? What gives the nominee a competitive edge? How has the nominee successfully implemented strategic public relations for communications?
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Supporting Information. For maximum points, please include supporting information for each criterion. You may provide up to three pieces of supporting materials, such as files, web addresses, planning documents, press clippings, work samples, photographs, video clips and more.
How to Submit a Nomination
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Nomination Deadline: Monday, Aug. 17 | 5 p.m. ET
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Anyone may submit a nomination, including self-nominations. PRSA membership is only required for the Career Achievement Award.
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Entry Fee
The entry fee for each nomination is $35 for PRSA members, $45 for non-PRSA members and $25 for PRSSA members.
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Online Nomination Form
You can submit a nomination by clicking on this button.