Winners of the Virginia Professional Communicators 2022 Communications Contest were announced on April 30, 2022, at VPC’s spring conference, held in Richmond.
VPC’s first-place winners have advanced to the contest of the National Federation of Press Women, of which VPC is an affiliate. Those national winners will be announced on June 25, 2022, at NFPW’s annual conference, to be held this year in Fargo, North Dakota.
Karen Schwartzkopf, managing editor of Richmond Family Magazine, and writer Joan Tupponce, who is regularly published in RFM and at RFMonline.com, earned first place awards for their work in editing and writing. Tupponce also won VPC’s Sweepstakes Award for most entries placing first, second, and third in the communications contest. Melissa Face, who writes features for RFM, received multiple awards, including a second place award for her article, “What Antiracism Looks Like: Raising Culturally Responsive Kids,” which was published in the 2021 summer issue of RFM.
During the awards ceremony, Luisa Igloria, Virginia’s poet laureate, was honored as VPC’s 2022 Newsmaker of the Year, one of the organization’s top honors.
2022 VPC state contest winners include:
Nancy Wright Beasley
First Place
Web and Social Media > Electronic Newsletter > Nonprofit, government, or educational
News from Nancy Wright Beasley: Turmoil and Triumph in 2021
Jessica Broads
Second Place
Web and Social Media > Blog > Nonprofit, government or educational
Visit Farmville: It’s a Small Town Christmas Giveaway
Sunni Brown
First Place
Information for the Media > Media Pitch
University of Richmond expert on Latin American politics discusses Chile presidential election
Michele Cook
First Place
Writing > Specialty Articles > Agriculture (agribusiness, aquaculture)
When Hens Stop Laying
Second Place
Writing > Columns > General
VPC President’s Column
Frances Broaddus Crutchfield
Second Place
Writing > Books, Short Stories, Verse > Creative Verse > Single poem
To Us on the Cusp of 80
Melissa Face
Second Place
Writing > Feature Story > Magazine, newsletter/other publication
*What Antiracism Looks Like: Raising Culturally Responsive Kids
Honorable Mention
Writing > Feature Story > Magazine, newsletter/other publication
Women Building Ships
Megan George and Kristina Kerton-Eisele
First Place
Communications Programs and Campaigns > Marketing Program or Campaign
RISE Collaborative Branding and Marketing Plan
Virginia Johnson
First Place
Writing > Books, Short Stories, Verse > Nonfiction Book for Adult Readers > Biography or History
Virginia Honey: A Sweet History
Beth JoJack
First Place
Writing > Feature Story > Magazine, newsletter/other publication
The Green and Gold of Ossabaw Island
Gail Kent
First Place
Public Relations Materials > Report
The Muse Writers Center Report to the Community
Honorable Mention
Writing > Personality Profile > More than 500 words
Building a Better Future: Louis Haddad, CEO and President of Armada Hoffler Properties, Voted TOP CEO and Best Local Leader Making a Difference
Kristina Kerton-Eisele
First Place
Communications Programs and Campaigns > Public Relations Campaign
Moton Live Public Relations Campaign
Patty Kruszewski
First Place
Writing > Specialty Articles > Social issues
Toolkit Provides Strategies for Supporting Youth
Second Place
Writing > Feature Story > Online publication
Cycling advocate Vye recognized as Richmond History Maker
Second Place
Writing > Specialty Articles > Business
Short Pump restaurants tout unique models
Third Place
Writing > Feature Story > Online publication
Putting the Play in Playhouse
Honorable Mention
Writing > Feature Story > Online publication
Nonprofit helps couples get from striving to thriving
Honorable Mention
Writing > Specialty Articles > Physical health (fitness, diet, clean lifestyle)
At Regency site, things are going swimmingly
Kim Loehr
First Place
Writing > Specialty Articles > Food
Spirited Cooking: A Beginner’s Guide to Cooking with Alcohol
First Place
Information for the Media > News or Feature Release – Single Release
Lightning, Tragedy and Lessons Learned about Lightning Safety and Awareness: A look back at one of lightning’s deadliest strikes
Second Place
Graphics and Design > Graphics > Infographics
DEHN Company Profile Infographic
Melodie Martin
First Place
Writing > Headlines
Ann Oppenhimer
First Place
Writing > Specialty Articles > Obituary (expanded from a regular obituary)
Jean-Claude Caire, 1933-2020: Memories of Our Friendship
First Place
Writing > Columns > Personal opinion (bylined, not editorial)
Message from the Executive Director #103 and Message from Executive Director #104
First Place
Web and Social Media > Website Edited or Managed by Entrant > Nonprofit, government or educational
Folk Art Society of America Website
First Place
Web and Social Media > Social Media Presence > Nonprofit, government or educational
Folk Art Society of America Facebook Page
Second Place
Writing > Specialty Articles > Obituary (expanded from a regular obituary)
Obituary: Carl “Spike” Knuth: 1944-2020
Second Place
Editing for Print or Online Publications > Publication Regularly Edited by Entrant > Magazine/Magapaper
Folk Art Messenger
Devin Reese
First Place
Writing > Feature Story > Online publication
One Loggerhead Turtle’s 30-Year Journey
Karen Schwartzkopf
First Place
Editing for Print or Online Publications > Publication Regularly Edited by Entrant > Magazine/Magapaper
*Richmond Family Magazine (September/October 2021)
Third Place
Writing > Columns > General
*Editor’s Voice – Moms Need a Grace Period and The One About Breastfeeding
Pamela Stallsmith
First Place
Writing > Editorial/Opinion
Year-round school is worth exploring
Second Place
Writing > Editorial/Opinion
The importance of civics education
Third Place
Writing > Editorial/Opinion
The ‘pandemic wall’
Martha Steger
First Place
Writing > Specialty Articles > Physical health
Happy Holidays? Handling Anxiety and Stress
First Place
Writing > Books, Short Stories, Verse > Creative Verse > Single poem
Pop’s Figs
First Place
Writing > Specialty Articles > Personal essay
Going for the Digital Gold?
First Place
Writing > Specialty Articles > Travel
The Carolina Connection
First Place
Web and Social Media > Blog > Nonprofit, government or educational
Old 96 District: Roads Less Traveled
Second Place
Writing > Specialty Articles > Food
Freedmen Communities and Chef Edna Lewis
Second Place
Writing > Specialty Articles > Physical health
Plan ahead to pay for long-term care
Honorable Mention
Writing > Specialty Articles > Agriculture (agribusiness, aquaculture)
One Lucky Lobster
Joan Tupponce
Note: Tupponce won VPC’s Sweepstakes Award for Most Entries Placing 1st, 2nd, and 3rd
First Place
Writing > Personality Profile > More than 500 words
Combat veteran and VCU Nursing student charts new path to connect with people and help them heal
First Place
Writing > Specialty Articles > Education
*The Basics: Helping Preschoolers Engage!
First Place
Writing > Columns > General
*Just Joan: RVA Storyteller – Entrepreneur Sheila Johnson Celebrates the African Diaspora and David Waltenbaugh, Mental Wellness, and Innovative Tech
Second Place
Writing > Personality Profile > More than 500 words
*She’s a Christmas Star
Second Place
Writing > Specialty Articles > History
‘A painful chapter in our nation’s history’: New class to shed light on Indigenous boarding schools
Third Place
Writing > Personality Profile > More than 500 words
Filmmaker, storyteller, neuroscientist: Charlotte Wincott’s latest project is a reflection of her many skills
Third Place
Writing > Feature Story > Magazine, newsletter/other publication
*Medicine for the Soul
Third Place
Writing > Specialty Articles > Arts and entertainment
Actor and alum Zachary Knighton on origins, fatherhood and Magnum P.I.
Sheila Wickouski
First Place
Writing > Specialty Articles > Arts and entertainment
Escape to “Clouds, Ice and Bounty” at National Gallery of Art
Honorable Mention
Writing > Specialty Articles > Arts and entertainment
Women Behaving Badly: 400 years of Power and Protest in Art
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Virginia Professional Communicators is a statewide organization of professional women and men pursuing careers across the communications spectrum.
