In 2024, two new sponsored and named awards joined the JPRE family. It’s with our profound gratitude that we introduce The Arthur W. Page Center for Integrity in Public Communication Top Ethics in PR Pedagogy Award and the Stan Richards School of Advertising & Public Relations – Moody College, UT Top Quality Reviewer Award. These awards join the Chuck Lubbers Award for Pedagogical Research, plus the Pamela Bourland-Davis Editorial Excellence Award, established in 2025, will be issued annually at the AEJMC Conference in August.
All items published with JPRE are considered for awards automatically – there is no other entry process. Award winners are selected by the editorial board of JPRE without input from the donors.
The Arthur W. Page Center for Integrity in Public Communication Top Ethics in PR Pedagogy Award
The Top Ethics in PR Pedagogy Paper Award for the Journal of Public Relations Education (JPRE) is presented by the Arthur W. Page Center for Integrity in Public Communication. This award is a distinguished honor given annually to one exemplary paper in the field of ethics in public relations pedagogy. This award recognizes groundbreaking research that significantly contributes to the understanding and teaching of ethics and responsibility in public communication. The winning paper is chosen from all work published in the journal in a calendar year and will be awarded to a paper that offers exceptional insight, rigorous analysis, and profound impact on the ethics of public relations education. The award reflects the Page Center’s dedication to nurturing ethical awareness and practice in corporate and public communication spheres. This accolade not only celebrates academic excellence but also reinforces the importance of integrating ethical considerations into the core of PR education. The award is given annually at the AEJMC conference and includes a $500 cash award. The award will only be given if an appropriate article appears within a calendar year.
Past Award Winners:
2025 – Alec Tefertiller, Rosalynn Vasquez, Matthew Brammer for The Kids are Alright: Examining how US Public Relations Students Ethically Navigate Artificial Intelligence (11-1)
2024 – Marlene S. Neill, Shannon A. Bowen, and Denise Bortree for Identifying & addressing gaps in public relations ethics education (10-1)
“Aspire, and be inspired.”
— Betsy Plank
Stan Richards School of Advertising & Public Relations – Moody College, UT Top Quality Reviewer Award
The Stan Richards School of Advertising & Public Relations – Moody College, UT Top Quality Reviewer Award for the Journal of Public Relations Education (JPRE) is a prestigious accolade bestowed annually to honor an outstanding individual who has demonstrated exceptional commitment, expertise, and diligence in reviewing JPRE submissions. This award recognizes the crucial role of peer reviewers in maintaining the highest standards of scholarly discourse and integrity in PR educational research. Recipients are selected based on their thoroughness, constructive feedback, and timely contribution to the advancement of PR pedagogical knowledge. The award acknowledges their invaluable service to the academic community and encourages continued excellence in the critical task of peer review, thus highlighting the vital importance of quality reviews in shaping the future of pedagogical scholarship. The award is given annually at the AEJMC conference and includes a $250 cash award.
Past Award Winners:
2025 – Katie Place, Quinnipiac University
2024 – Lauren Bayliss, Georgia Southern University
Chuck Lubbers Award for Pedagogical Research
The Journal of Public Relations Education’s (JPRE) founding Editor-In-Chief presents the Chuck Lubbers Award for Pedagogical Research. This is an esteemed recognition given annually to an outstanding research paper that exemplifies academic excellence in the field of public relations (PR) education. This award celebrates the innovative, impactful, and methodologically rigorous work of authors who significantly contribute to advancing PR pedagogical understanding and practice. Selected by a panel of expert scholars, the winning paper is distinguished by its originality, research depth, presentation clarity, and potential to influence PR educational theory and practice. This accolade not only honors the authors’ dedication to high-quality PR pedagogy research but also sets a benchmark for future submissions, inspiring a continual elevation of standards in PR educational scholarship. The award underscores JPRE’s commitment to fostering cutting-edge, transformative educational research. The award is given annually at the AEJMC conference and includes a $250 cash award.
Past Award Winners:
2025 – Stephanie Madden & Kate Guastaferro for “Public relations isn’t all rainbows and butterflies”: Student experiences in developing a child sexual abuse prevention campaign (10-2)
2024 – Heather Riddell and Amanda Bradshaw for Dewey and social media: Using a pragmatic approach to designing a foundational public relations social media communication course (9-2)
2023 – Matthew Ragas for Developing business literacy in the classroom and the workplace: A Delphi study of corporate communication leaders (9-1)
Pamela Bourland-Davis Editorial Excellence Award
The Pamela Bourland-Davis Editorial Excellence Award honors an individual on “staff” with JPRE who has demonstrated exceptional commitment, skill, and integrity in editorial leadership. This annual award recognizes those who uphold the highest standards of quality, accuracy, and innovation in the editorial process. Recipients of this award have significantly contributed to elevating the visibility, rigor, and impact of the publications or platforms they steward. Their work reflects a deep dedication to editorial ethics, inclusivity, mentorship, and the advancement of knowledge within their field. This award celebrates excellence in areas such as peer review coordination, editorial strategy, author development, content curation, and process improvement. It acknowledges the often-unseen VOLUNTEER labor of editorial work at JPRE that ensures clarity, coherence, and credibility in published communication. This award winner is selected annually by the Editor-in-Chief, JPRE.
Past Award Winners:
2025 – Christopher McCollough, Kennesaw State University