The Delavan-Darien School District is celebrating a national achievement after Ashley Duchemin, Director of Marketing, Communications & Community Engagement, received one of the highest honors in school public relations from the National School Public Relations Association (NSPRA).
Duchemin earned the Award of Excellence, the highest recognition presented within each award category in the 2026 NSPRA Publications and Digital Media Awards for the District's "Discover the Magic of Early Learning" 4K Marketing Campaign.
Presented annually by NSPRA, the National School Communication Awards recognize the very best work in school communications from across the United States. For more than 50 years, the program has honored outstanding achievements in marketing, branding, publications, digital media, photography, video, writing, and community engagement.
Award recipients were recognized during the 2026 National School Public Relations Association (NSPRA) National Seminar, held July 18–22 in New Orleans, Louisiana. The annual conference brings together school communication professionals from across the country to learn, collaborate, and celebrate excellence in school public relations.
Unlike many award competitions, NSPRA entries are not judged against one another. Instead, each submission is evaluated individually by experienced, accredited school public relations professionals using rigorous national standards of excellence. Judges evaluate each project on its strategic planning, creativity, execution, measurable effectiveness, and overall impact.
The Award of Excellence represents the highest distinction awarded within each category and recognizes communication campaigns that exemplify the very best practices in school public relations.
Duchemin's award-winning campaign was developed to increase awareness of the Delavan-Darien School District's 4K program while helping families better understand the importance of early childhood education. Through strategic branding, engaging storytelling, creative design, and targeted outreach, the campaign successfully connected with families and encouraged them to begin their educational journey in the Delavan-Darien School District.
"This national recognition is a tremendous accomplishment and a reflection of Ashley's exceptional talent, creativity, and commitment to telling the story of our schools," said Anthony Klein, Interim Superintendent of the Delavan-Darien School District. "Her work continues to strengthen the connection between our schools and community while showcasing the incredible opportunities available to our students. Receiving one of NSPRA's highest honors is something our entire district can be proud of."
Duchemin said the recognition represents far more than one campaign. "I am incredibly honored to receive this national recognition from NSPRA," said Duchemin. "This award reflects the amazing students, staff, families, and community that make Delavan-Darien School District such a special place. Every photo, every story, every video, and every campaign is an opportunity to celebrate the incredible things happening throughout our schools. I'm grateful to work in a district that believes in sharing those stories and showcasing the pride that exists throughout Comet Nation."
The recognition places the Delavan-Darien School District among school districts and educational organizations from across the country whose communication efforts have been recognized as meeting the highest standards of professional excellence.
As the Delavan-Darien School District looks toward the future, Duchemin remains committed to telling the stories that bring people together, strengthen partnerships, amplify student voices, and celebrate the many successes happening across the District. This national recognition serves as a reminder that every achievement is made possible through the dedication of students, staff, families, and community partners because in #CometNation, together we are better, together we achieve more, and together we continue to inspire the next generation.