Awards

Industry awards acknowledge how our strategies and creativity are helping our clients reach their goals. The competition also pushes us to be even better PR practitioners.

2023

Digital Health Awards

PRWeek
Women of Distinction Honoree—Maria Rodriguez

The Telly Awards
Bronze, Series Social Video: Public Service/Activism—Food Animals Concerns Trust: Healthy and Humane Food Video Series

2022

American Graphic Design Awards

American Society of Association Executives (ASAE) Gold Circle Awards
Advocacy—Society of NeuroInterventional Surgery: Get Ahead of Stroke®: Integrated Advocacy Campaign to Save Lives

Association TRENDS™ TRENDY Awards
Best Advocacy Campaign—American Psychological Association’s Stress in America™ 2021: One Year Later, A New Wave of Pandemic Health Concerns

Digital Health Awards

The Telly Awards

  • Bronze, General Social Video: Public Service/Activism—League of Women Voters of the United States: No More Excuses: Voting Rights Now!
  • Bronze, Series Social Video: Public Service/Activism—Society of NeuroInterventional Surgery: Get Ahead of Stroke®: Integrated Social Media Campaign

University of Maryland Department of Communication Alumni Awards
2022 COMM Achiever—Brittany Vanderpool

2021

American Graphic Design Awards

  • Graphic Design USA Awards—AmeriHealth Caritas District of Columbia: Bright Start Booklet
  • Graphic Design USA Health + Wellness Design Awards—SNIS Get Ahead of Stroke® campaign videos
  • Graphic Design USA Health + Wellness Design Awards—AmeriHealth Caritas District of Columbia: Flu Shot Infographics

American Society of Association Executives (ASAE)
2021 Power of A Gold Award—Society of NeuroInterventional Surgery

Digital Health Awards

  • Gold, Web-Based Digital Health—AmeriHealth Caritas District of Columbia: Get the Shot, Not the Flu Infographics
  • Silver, Digital Health Media/Publications—Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s UADPEI: Communities Talk Registration Support Video
  • Merit, Web-Based Digital Health—Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s UADPEI: Turning Data into Stories: Promoting Underage Drinking Prevention

PR News
2021 PRNEWS Top Women in PR: Changemaker—Crystal Borde

PRNEWS CSR & Diversity Awards
Honorable Mention: Mentoring Program—Comunicadores for the Future

PRSA 2021 National Capital Excellence in Communication Awards
Certificate of Excellence, Integrated Media Relations, Over $25,000—American Psychological Association’s Stress in America™: A National Mental Health Crisis

Ragan’s 2021 Top Women in Communications Awards
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Champion—Crystal Borde

Ragan’s PR Daily Awards

Ragan’s Video, Visual & Virtual Awards
Public Service Video—League of Women Voters of the United States: VOTE411: Election Information You Need

The Association for Women in Communications, Clarion Awards

The Telly Awards

Washington Women in Public Relations 2021 Emerging Leaders Awards
Finalist, Small/Boutique Agency—Brittany Vanderpool

2020

American Graphic Design Awards

  • Graphic Design USA Health + Wellness Design Awards—Communities Talk social media campaign
  • Graphic Design USA Health + Wellness Design Awards—Women Power the Vote video

Digital Health Awards
Silver in Digital Health Media/Publications: Video—Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration: College Drinking: Prevention Perspectives–Embracing Culture and Context to Prevent Underage Drinking

National Association of Government Communicators Blue Pencil/Gold Screen Awards
First Place—Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration: Tips for Teens series

Public Relations Society of America National Capital Chapter — Excellence in Communications Awards

The Association for Women in Communications Clarion Award
Public Relations Campaign, Ongoing–Annual Budget of $50,000 or more—American Psychological Association: Stress in America™: Stress and Current Events

2004–2019 Highlights

Academy of Interactive and Visual Arts, Communicator Awards

  • Communicator Award of Excellence — National Network to End Domestic Violence: “Chefs Take a Stand” Event Signage
  • Communicator Award of Excellence — Campaign for High School Equity: “No Permission Slips to Fail” Op-Ed
  • Silver Communicator Award — National Center for Responsive Philanthropy: Logo (Corporate Identity)
  • Silver Communicator Award — The Consortium for Ocean Leadership: Logo (Corporate Identity)
  • Silver Communicator Award — Vanguard Communications: 2009 Calendar (Materials)
  • Silver Communicator Award — COLAGE, Children of Lesbians and Gays Everywhere: Strategic Plan (Pro Bono—Brochure)

American Advertising Awards
Silver Award — Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration: “The Sound of Your Voice” Video

American Graphic Design Awards

  • Graphic Design USA Awards — Vanguard Company Rebrand
  • Graphic Design USA Health + Wellness Design Awards — National Prevention Week 2018 Planning Guide and Resource Calendar
  • Graphic Design USA Health + Wellness Design Awards — 2017 National Prevention Week Outcomes Report
  • Graphic Design USA Health + Wellness Design Awards — 2017–2018 National Prevention Week Annual Report
  • Graphic Design USA Awards — WomenHeart: Native American women and heart disease infographic
  • Graphic Design USA Awards — Vanguard: “30 Years in 12 Months” 2017 Calendar
  • Graphic Design USA Health + Wellness Design Awards — Society of NeuroInterventional Surgery: Stroke Survival: A Patient Comparison
  • Graphic Design USA Health + Wellness Design Awards — Farm Aid: “Film2FarmAid” Poster Series
  • Graphic Design USA Health + Wellness Design Awards — Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration: Voice Awards 2016 program
  • Graphic Design USA Health + Wellness Design Awards — Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration: Voice Awards 2016 Partner e-Kit
  • Graphic Design USA Health + Wellness Design Awards — Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration: Voice Awards 2016 Partner Animated GIF
  • Graphic Design USA Health + Wellness Design Awards — Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration: Voice Awards 2016 Partner Portal Website
  • Graphic Design USA Health + Wellness Design Awards — Women and Afib Infographic — WomenHeart
  • Graphic Design USA Awards — WomenHeart: Women, Depression and Heart
    Disease Infographic

American Photographic Artists Short Video Contest
Winner, Best Use of Motion — National Council for Behavioral Health: “The Other Side” 50th Anniversary Video

Bulldog Reporter
Bulldog Media Relations Award —
American Psychological Association: Stress in America™

Bulldog Stars of PR Awards for Outstanding Achievement by Communications Agencies and Professionals
Gold-Level Award Winner, Small Agency of the Year Under $10,000,000 — Vanguard Communications

Digital Health Awards
Silver in Web-based Digital Health: Microsite — Society of NeuroInterventional Surgery: Get Ahead of Stroke Campaign

Graphic Design USA Awards
“For a Healthy Mind and Body, Talk to a Psychologist” Brochure — American Psychological Association

International Association of Business Communicators

  • Gold Quill Merit Award, Branding — Consortium for Ocean Leadership: Brand and Logo Development
  • Heritage Region Silver Quill Award, Graphic Design — American Psychological Association: Mind/Body Health Toolkit
  • Silver Inkwell Award of Merit — Consortium for Ocean Leadership: Brand and Logo Development
  • Silver Inkwell Award of Excellence — Conference, Training, or Meeting Materials— American Psychological Association: Mind/Body Health Toolkit

National Association of Government Communicators
Blue Pencil/Gold Screen Awards

  • First Place — Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration: 2016 Voice Awards
  • First Place — Special Purpose Product — Allegheny County: Use Your Words Educational Toolkit
  • First Place — Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration: “Mental Health: It’s Part of All Our Lives” PSA
  • First Place — Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration: “Mental Health: It’s Part of All Our Lives” PSA
  • First Place — Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration: “Salud Mental: Parte De Nuestra Vida” PSA
  • First Place — Federal Trade Commission: Father’s Day e-Card
  • First Place — Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration: National Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day 2014 e-Book

National Health Information Awards

  • Bronze Award — Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration: 2011 Voice Awards Event
  • Merit Award — Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration: Wellness Initiative

PR Daily Digital Marketing and Social Media Awards
First Place, Visual Design — American Public Power Association: #CommunityPowered Campaign

Public Relations Society of America’s National Capital Chapter (PRSA-NCC) National Capital Public Relations Hall of Fame
2016 Inductee — Maria Rodriguez

Public Relations Society of America National Capital Chapter Thoth Awards

  • Integrated Media Relations Campaigns with a Budget Over $25,000 — “Stress in America™ 2018”: American Psychological Association
  • Events and Observances (fewer than 7 days) — “Night Out for Austin Tice”: The National Press Club
  • Finalist, Integrated Media Relations, $25,000 and Up — American Psychological Association and Vanguard Communications: “Stress in America™: Our Health at Risk”

PR News

PR News Social Media Icon Awards
Finalist, Twitter | PR Campaign — Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration: National Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day 2013

PR News Nonprofit PR Awards
Winner, Digital PR and Marketing — American Psychological Association: “Psychotherapy: More than a Quick Fix” Initiative

PRWeek Awards

  • Honorable Mention, Small PR Agency of the Year — Vanguard Communications
  • Finalist, Nonprofit Campaign of the Year — Women Chefs and Restaurateurs: “Road to the White House Kitchen”

The Association for Women in Communications
Clarion Awards

  • American Academy of Physician Assistants: Career ComPAnion Manual (Internal Publication)
  • Building Bridges Initiative: Logo
  • Galvin Electricity Initiative: Sad Socket Ad Campaign (Print Advertising)
  • Vanguard Communications: Vanguard Blog (InSites: Blogging for Social Change)
  • Virginia Commonwealth University Center on Human Needs: Project on Societal Distress Snapshots/Infographics
  • Women Chefs and Restaurateurs: Calendar (Special Design/Creation)

The Stevie® Awards for Women in Business
Finalist; Best Overall Company of the Year, Advertising, Marketing, and Public Relations Service Business Up to 100 Employees — Vanguard Communications

The Webby Awards

  • Honoree — Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America: Website
  • Honoree — Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration: “Mental Health: It’s Part of All Our Lives” Website

U.S. Women’s Chamber of Commerce
National Small Business Contractors’ Week 2018 Women Contractor Awards — Maria Rodriguez, Women-Owned Small Business, Innovation and Performance

Washington Women in Public Relations, Emerging Leaders Award

  • 2018 Winner, Boutique Agency/Independent — Shelby Giles
  • 2018 Finalist, Boutique Agency/Independent — Kate Fink

Working Mother Magazine
25 Best Small Companies — Vanguard Communications