Professional Awards

Nominations for the Jay Rockey Lifetime Achievement Award and Hugh Smith Community Service Award are closed. Recipients were recognized at PRSA Puget Sound’s Annual Meeting in October 2025.

Jay Rockey Lifetime Achievement Award

The Jay Rockey Lifetime Achievement Award was established in 2002 in honor of Jay Rockey’s commitment to the public relations profession. This award recognizes the career achievements of a Puget Sound area public relations professional who has advanced the field of public relations and demonstrated outstanding professional ability and conduct throughout his or her career. View a list of past recipients.

Submission guidelines can be found here. The 2026 nomination deadline will be published here once it is determined.

Hugh Smith Community Service Award

This award was established in 1997 to recognize a Puget Sound area public relations professional who has demonstrated outstanding citizenship by contributing his/her public relations expertise to an important community issue and/or nonprofit organization(s). Winners are not required to be PRSA members. The award was presented posthumously to Hugh Smith, APR, PRSA Fellow, at the 1997 Holiday Gala. View a list of past recipients.

Submission guidelines can be found here. The 2026 nomination deadline will be published here once it is determined.

Additional chapter awards:

Public Relations Professional of the Year

The PR Professional of the Year Award recognizes a Puget Sound area public relations professional who has best demonstrated professionalism, innovation and involvement in the field of public relations within the past year.  View a list of past recipients. 

Outstanding New Member of the Year

This award is presented to the new chapter member who has made the most significant contribution to both the organization and his/her employer and shown professionalism in the field outside of his or her involvement with PRSA. View a list of past recipients. 

President’s Award for Volunteerism

The President's Award for Volunteerism was established in 2002 to recognize outstanding volunteerism by Puget Sound Chapter members as selected by the chapter president. View a list of past recipients.