2026 Excellence in Communications Award Nomination

DISCLAIMER

This nomination information will be shared with other states on the Workforce Innovation Awards Nominations website. This public website contains Innovation Award nominations from previous years and indexes them by topic as a shared resource for all states.

Description

The Excellence in Communications Award recognizes a state workforce agency, or partnership involving a state workforce agency for outstanding achievement in the field of communications, recognizing individuals or teams who have demonstrated creativity, clarity, and impact in their messaging. Whether through innovative campaigns, strategic storytelling, or effective stakeholder engagement, the recipient has set a high standard for how information is shared and understood.

Selection Criteria

The Awards Workgroup from the Communications Committee will review all nominations, assign each a score based on the seven criteria below, and the nomination with the highest total score will be selected as the winner.

Clarity and Effectiveness of Communication (up to 1-10 points)
- How clearly are the ideas presented?
- Is the message appropriate and understandable for the intended audience?
- Does communication achieve its intended purpose?
Innovation and Creativity (1-10 points)
- Is the approach fresh, original, or inventive?
- Are there creative elements in messaging, medium, or delivery?
- Does it stand out from typical or standard communications?
Strategy and Alignment (1-10 points)
- Is the communication aligned with broader organizational or campaign goals?
- Are the objectives clear and well thought out?
- Does it show a strategic understanding of audience needs?
Measurable Impact (1-10 points)
- Is there tangible, data-driven results (e.g., increased engagement, positive feedback, behavior change)?
- Are outcomes clearly connected to the communication efforts?
- Was success tracked and reported effectively?
Audience Engagement (1-10 points)
- How well did the communication resonate with its target audience?
- Was it interactive, inclusive, or responsive to feedback?
- Did it build relationships or spark dialogue?
Professional Execution (1-10 points)
- Is the presentation high quality (visually, tonally, and technically)?
- Is the content accurate, well-organized, and consistent?
- Were deadlines and logistics handled effectively?
Ethics (1-10 points)
- Does communication uphold ethical standards (honesty, transparency)?
- Are all relevant audiences considered and respectfully addressed?

Eligible Nominees

A State Workforce Agency or a partnership or initiative involving the State Workforce Agency must be named as the nominee of the award. The award may recognize specific individuals or agencies within the nomination.

Nomination Requirements

Must be submitted by 5:00 pm ET, December 12, 2025
Submit a completed award nomination;
Contain answers to the questions listed on the nomination form within the prescribed word limit;
Include a statement of approval from the agency administrator; and,
Be the single nomination for that state in this category.