The Hempstead ISD Communications Office was recognized with seven Star Awards from the Texas School Public Relations Association (TSPRA) for excellence in school communications during the 2023-2024 school year.
The awards were presented Wednesday night during the 2025 annual TSPRA Conference Star Awards Banquet in San Antonio, TX. Each year, TSPRA recognizes exceptional work in print, electronic, and visual communications. Hempstead ISD Communications earned three Gold Stars and four Silver Stars.
TSPRA award judges annually evaluate thousands of award submissions from across the state of Texas.
The three Gold Star Awards included the Bobcat Blueprint booklet, the Back to School Bobcat Digital Magazine, and Welding in Pink, an academic subject photo. A Silver Star award was received for The Bobcat Beat Newsletter e-newsletter, the Hempstead ISD Bond Voter Guide e-newsletter, and two photos.
Submissions for the TSPRA Star Awards were due in October and encompass over 48 different categories, with eligibility for work created between August 2023 and June 2024. The awards acknowledge excellence in both print and electronic media for school communications professionals, education foundations, and associations across Texas.
The Hempstead ISD Communications Department is led by Chief of Staff and Chief Communications Officer Valonia Walker, APR.
The Texas School Public Relations Association is a nonprofit, professional organization dedicated to promoting public schools through effective communications. TSPRA, an award-winning chapter of the National School Public Relations Association (NSPRA), was chartered in 1962 and incorporated in 1977. With more than 1,000 members, TSPRA is made up primarily of public information and communications professionals who serve the public school districts and education organizations of Texas. For more information on TSPRA, visit their website at TSPRA.org.