Contact: Carla Browning, MPA, APR
PRSA Alaska Chapter President
907-474-5573
cjbrowning@alaska.edu
www.prsaalaska.org
Shining a Spotlight on Alaska’s Best in Public Relations
2025 PRSA Alaska Chapter Aurora Awards
October 23, 2025 – ANCHORAGE, Alaska – Alaska’s public relations industry is thriving as this year’s Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) Alaska Chapter Aurora Awards marked one of the strongest years of participation to date. Public relations professionals gathered in Anchorage recently to celebrate the outstanding creativity and strategy across the state.
PRSA proclaims that the essential components of public relations are research, planning, execution and evaluation. The annual Aurora Awards recognize Alaska-based individuals and teams who best execute those components in their diverse work. Entries are judged by PRSA members from outside Alaska.
Awards were presented in 25 categories, including three special honors: the Grand Award of Excellence, the Grand Aurora Award and APRs’ Choice.
Grand Award of Excellence – recognizing an exemplary tactic or tool
GCI for Internal Publications.
GCI’s “The Trailblazer Tribune” connects the company’s primarily remote workforce with company information, employee recognition, project milestones, philanthropy updates and more. The publication achieved open rates of nearly double the industry average.
Grand Aurora Award – recognizing an exemplary campaign
UAA Office of Advancement and Office of Admissions, Brilliant Media Strategies and Wake One LLC for UAA’s Recruitment Marketing Campaign.
UAA’s strategic recruitment campaign delivered exceptional enrollment growth through innovative digital marketing and data-driven optimization.
APRs’ Choice – favorite campaign as voted on by Alaskans accredited in public relations
Bag It Up! Fundraiser by the Bag It Up Committee. This was in the Events Seven or Fewer Days category.
2025’s “Bag It Up!” fundraiser combined a fun, high-energy concept with intentional, informed, strategic communications and outreach that had meaningful impact and measurable results.
The APRs’ Choice Award provides the opportunity for Alaska’s public relations professionals holding the Accreditation in Public Relations (APR) designation to vote for their favorite campaign, a twist on a People’s Choice Award.
First place awards were presented in the following categories:
Awards of Excellence – tactics and tools
- Creative Tactic – GCI
- External Publication – Gana-A’Yoo, Limited
- Internal Publication – GCI
- Media Relations – Huna Totem Corporation and Thompson & Co. Public Relations
- Radio Material – The Anchorage Museum
- Social Media – The Food Bank of Alaska
- Special Electronic and Printed Promotional Materials – Alaska Housing Finance Corporation
- Video Material – American Red Cross of Alaska
- Website – The Food Bank of Alaska
Aurora Awards – campaigns
- Community Relations – The Anchorage Museum
- Crisis Communications – University of Alaska Office of Public Affairs
- Diversity, Equity and Inclusion – Kinross Alaska
- Events and Observances (more than seven days) – Spawn Ideas
- Events and Observances (seven or fewer days) – Bag It Up! Organizing Committee
- Integrated Communications – Michael Baker International and the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities
- Internal Communications – GCI
- Issues Management – University of Alaska, Office of Public Affairs and University of Alaska UNAC Bargaining Team
- Marketing Communications – UAA Office of Advancement and Office of Admissions, Brilliant Media Strategies and Wake One LLC and Stan Stephens Glacier & Wildlife Cruises and Thompson & Company Public Relations
- Public Affairs – Protect Juneau’s Future: Vote No on Proposition 2 Campaign
Click here to see a list of all award recipients.
Pictured: Grand Award of Excellence winner Curtiss Clifton (right) with GCI and PRSA Alaska Chapter President Carla Browning, APR.
Pictured: Grand Aurora Award winner Katie Bender (right) from the University of Alaska Anchorage and PRSA Alaska Chapter President Carla Browning, APR.
Pictured: APRs’ Choice winner Jonathon Taylor representing the Bag It Up! Fundraiser.
Pictured: Aurora Awards event emcees Julie Hasquet (right), Chugach Electric Association and Heather Cavanaugh, APR, Alaska Communications.
Pictured: Aurora Awards event attendees.
Pictured: Aurora Awards event attendees.
About PRSA Alaska
Established in 1977, the PRSA Alaska Chapter connects communications professionals working in the Last Frontier. Today, PRSA Alaska includes more than 150 members statewide, providing public relations practitioners and communicators with monthly luncheons, professional development seminars, webinars, career postings, education, awards recognition, accreditation preparation and more. Learn more about PRSA Alaska by visiting prsaalaska.org.
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