Ossining Schools Honored with Six National NSPRA Awards

The Ossining Union Free School District has received six awards in this year’s National School Public Relations Association (NSPRA) communications contest, including the prestigious Golden Achievement Award, one of the organization’s highest honors.

The Golden Achievement Award was presented to Southern Westchester BOCES Public Relations Specialist Anthony DiNoto for his visual storytelling leadership on the Ossining Building Blueprint: 2024 Bond Referendum Communications Campaign, the centerpiece of the district’s outreach leading up to last December’s historic $210 million bond vote — the largest in Westchester County history at the time.

In collaboration with SWBOCES Graphic Illustrator Jeffry Braun and Ossining district official Nicole Reis, Mr. DiNoto led the development of a high-impact video and a dynamic district newsletter, paired with clear, consistent messaging across print, digital, and social media. This comprehensive campaign provided residents with transparent information about the urgent need to address overcrowding, aging infrastructure, and safety concerns, while maintaining fiscal responsibility through a funding plan that did not increase the tax levy.

The campaign’s strategic, community-centered storytelling helped build trust and engagement, ultimately contributing to overwhelming support at the polls, with 77% of voters approving the bond.

In addition, Mr. Braun earned a separate Honorable Mention Award for his design of The Ossining O-Gram, the district’s quarterly print newsletter.

The district was also recognized for excellence in video production, with Media Production Specialist Angela Carrasquillo earning four awards for in-house video and social media work. Her Publication and Digital Media Excellence Awards recognized:

• OHS Marching Band Selected to Perform at Pearl Harbor Memorial
• A Day of Discovery and Creativity: Enrichment Day at Claremont
• Hour of Code: Inspiring Future Innovators

Ms. Carrasquillo also earned an Honorable Mention for her February Break Social Media Campaign: Explore, Engage, Enjoy!

The NSPRA awards were announced on May 29, with honorees set to be recognized at the NSPRA National Seminar in Washington, D.C., this July. All entries were evaluated against national standards of excellence by communications professionals from across the country.

These six national honors reflect the Ossining School District’s ongoing commitment to clear, creative, and transparent communication in support of its students, families, and community.