Awards

Industry awards acknowledge how our strategies and creativity are helping our clients reach their goals. The competition also pushes us to be even better PR practitioners.

2021

Ragan’s Video, Visual & Virtual Awards
Public Service Video—League of Women Voters of the United States—VOTE411: Election Information You Need (Video) in English and Spanish

PR News CSR & Diversity Awards
Mentorship Program—Honorable Mention—Comunicadores for the Future program in partnership with The George Washington University’s Cisneros Hispanic Leadership Institute.

2020

Public Relations Society of America National Capital Chapter — Excellence in Communications Awards
Integrated Media Relations – Campaigns on Budget of $25,000 and Up—American Psychological Association: Stress in America™: Stress and Current Events

Public Relations Society of America National Capital Chapter — Excellence in Communications Awards
Publications, Newsletters and Blogs (Print and Online)—AmeriHealth Caritas District of Columbia: “First Things First” Member Guide

Digital Health Awards
Silver in Digital Health Media/Publications: Video—Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration: College Drinking: Prevention Perspectives–Embracing Culture and Context to Prevent Underage Drinking

American Graphic Design Awards
2020 Graphic Design USA Health + Wellness Design Awards—Communities Talk social media campaign

American Graphic Design Awards
2020 Graphic Design USA Health + Wellness Design Awards—Women Power the Vote video

The Association for Women in Communications Clarion Award
Public Relations Campaign, Ongoing–Annual Budget of $50,000 or more—American Psychological Association: Stress in America™: Stress and Current Events

National Association of Government Communicators Blue Pencil/Gold Screen Awards
First Place—Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration: Tips for Teens series

2019

PR News
Hall of Fame—Maria Rodriguez

American Graphic Design Awards
Graphic Design USA Health + Wellness Design Awards — Society of NeuroInterventional Surgery: Get Ahead of Stroke® Fan Deck

Bulldog PR Awards
Bronze Award, Media Relations Campaign—American Psychological Association: Stress in America™ – Generation Z

National Association of Government Communicators Blue Pencil/Gold Screen Awards
Award of Excellence — Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration: NPW 2019 Planning Guide and Resource Calendar

Ragan’s PR Daily Awards
Honorable Mention — American Psychological Association: Stress in America™

PR Daily Digital Marketing and Social Media Awards
First Place, Visual Design — American Public Power Association: #CommunityPowered Campaign

PRSA Thoth Awards
Integrated Media Relations Campaigns with a Budget Over $25,000—“Stress in America™ 2018”: American Psychological Association

PRSA Thoth Awards
Events and Observances (fewer than 7 days)—“Night Out for Austin Tice”: The National Press Club

Ragan’s Health Care PR and Marketing Awards
First Place – Visual Design—Society of NeuroInterventional Surgery: Get Ahead of Stroke materials

2018

American Graphic Design Awards

  • Graphic Design USA Awards — Vanguard Company Rebrand
  • Graphic Design USA Health + Wellness Design Awards — National Prevention Week 2018 Planning Guide and Resource Calendar
  • Graphic Design USA Health + Wellness Design Awards — 2017 National Prevention Week Outcomes Report
  • Graphic Design USA Health + Wellness Design Awards — 2017–2018 National Prevention Week Annual Report

Bulldog Reporter
Media Relations Award—American Psychological Association: Stress in America™

Digital Health Awards

National Association of Government Communicators
Blue Pencil & Gold Screen Awards
Second place — SAMHSA’s National Prevention Week 2018 Planning Guide and Resource Calendar

Public Relations Society of America National Capital Chapter Thoth Awards
Winner, Media Relations — American Psychological Association and Vanguard Communications: “Stress in America™”

PR News
Awardee, Top Women in PR — Brenda Foster

The Association for Women in Communications
Clarion Awards—American Psychological Association: Stress in America™

U.S. Women’s Chamber of Commerce
National Small Business Contractors’ Week 2018 Women Contractor Awards—Maria Rodriguez, Women-Owned Small Business, Innovation and Performance

Washington Women in Public Relations

  • Emerging Leaders Award Winner, Boutique Agency/Independent—Shelby Giles
  • Emerging Leaders Award Finalist, Boutique Agency/Independent—Kate Fink

2017

American Graphic Design Awards

  • Graphic Design USA Awards—WomenHeart: Native American women and heart disease infographic
  • Graphic Design USA Awards—ZERO TO THREE: HealthySteps logo
  • Graphic Design USA Awards—Vanguard: “30 Years in 12 Months” 2017 Calendar
  • Graphic Design USA Health + Wellness Design Awards—WomenHeart: Native American women and heart disease infographic
  • Graphic Design USA Health + Wellness Design Awards — WomenHeart: Centerpiece donation box
  • Graphic Design USA Health + Wellness Design Awards—ZERO TO THREE: HealthySteps logo
  • Graphic Design USA Health + Wellness Design Awards—Society of NeuroInterventional Surgery: Stroke Survival: A Patient Comparison

Bulldog Reporter
Bulldog Media Relations Award—American Psychological Association: Stress in America™

Digital Health Awards
Bronze in Web-based Digital Health—MedStar Health: 2016 Report to the Community Microsite

National Association of Government Communicators Blue Pencil/Gold Screen Awards

  • First Place — Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration: 2016 Voice Awards
  • Third Place — Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration: Awareness Day 2016

Ragan’s Health Care PR & Marketing Awards
Honorable Mention—Election Stress: American Psychological Association

The Association for Women in Communications
Clarion Awards—American Psychological Association: Stress in America™

2004–2016 Highlights

Academy of Interactive and Visual Arts, Communicator Awards

  • Communicator Award of Excellence — National Network to End Domestic Violence: “Chefs Take a Stand” Event Signage
  • Communicator Award of Excellence — Campaign for High School Equity: “No Permission Slips to Fail” Op-Ed
  • Silver Communicator Award — National Center for Responsive Philanthropy: Logo (Corporate Identity)
  • Silver Communicator Award — The Consortium for Ocean Leadership: Logo (Corporate Identity)
  • Silver Communicator Award — Vanguard Communications: 2009 Calendar (Materials)
  • Silver Communicator Award — COLAGE, Children of Lesbians and Gays Everywhere: Strategic Plan (Pro Bono—Brochure)

American Advertising Awards
Silver Award—Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration: “The Sound of Your Voice” Video

American Graphic Design Awards

  • Graphic Design USA Health + Wellness Design Awards — Farm Aid: “Film2FarmAid” Poster Series
  • Graphic Design USA Health + Wellness Design Awards — Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration: Voice Awards 2016 program
  • Graphic Design USA Health + Wellness Design Awards — Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration: Voice Awards 2016 Partner e-Kit
  • Graphic Design USA Health + Wellness Design Awards — Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration: Voice Awards 2016 Partner Animated GIF
  • Graphic Design USA Health + Wellness Design Awards — Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration: Voice Awards 2016 Partner Portal Website
  • Graphic Design USA Health + Wellness Design Awards — Women and Afib Infographic — WomenHeart
  • Graphic Design USA Awards — WomenHeart: Women, Depression and Heart
    Disease Infographic

American Photographic Artists Short Video Contest
Winner, Best Use of Motion—National Council for Behavioral Health: “The Other Side” 50th Anniversary Video

Bulldog Stars of PR Awards for Outstanding Achievement by Communications Agencies and Professionals
Gold-Level Award Winner, Small Agency of the Year Under $10,000,000—Vanguard Communications

Digital Health Awards
Silver in Web-based Digital Health: Microsite—Society of NeuroInterventional Surgery: Get Ahead of Stroke® Campaign

Graphic Design USA Awards
“For a Healthy Mind and Body, Talk to a Psychologist” Brochure—American Psychological Association

International Association of Business Communicators

  • Gold Quill Merit Award, Branding — Consortium for Ocean Leadership: Brand and Logo Development
  • Heritage Region Silver Quill Award, Graphic Design — American Psychological Association: Mind/Body Health Toolkit
  • Silver Inkwell Award of Merit — Consortium for Ocean Leadership: Brand and Logo Development
  • Silver Inkwell Award of Excellence — Conference, Training, or Meeting Materials— American Psychological Association: Mind/Body Health Toolkit

National Association of Government Communicators
Blue Pencil/Gold Screen Awards

  • First Place — Special Purpose Product — Allegheny County: Use Your Words Educational Toolkit
  • First Place — Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration: “Mental Health: It’s Part of All Our Lives” PSA
  • First Place — Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration: “Mental Health: It’s Part of All Our Lives” PSA
  • First Place — Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration: “Salud Mental: Parte De Nuestra Vida” PSA
  • First Place — Federal Trade Commission: Father’s Day e-Card
  • First Place — Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration: National Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day 2014 e-Book

National Health Information Awards

  • Bronze Award — Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration: 2011 Voice Awards Event
  • Merit Award — Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration: Wellness Initiative

Public Relations Society of America’s National Capital Chapter (PRSA-NCC) National Capital Public Relations Hall of Fame
2016 Inductee — Maria Rodriguez

Public Relations Society of America National Capital Chapter Thoth Awards
Finalist, Integrated Media Relations, $25,000 and Up—American Psychological Association and Vanguard Communications: “Stress in America™: Our Health at Risk”

PR News Social Media Icon Awards
Finalist, Twitter | PR Campaign— Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration: National Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day 2013

PR News Nonprofit PR Awards
Winner, Digital PR and Marketing— American Psychological Association: “Psychotherapy: More than a Quick Fix” Initiative

PRWeek Awards

  • Honorable Mention, Small PR Agency of the Year — Vanguard Communications
  • Finalist, Nonprofit Campaign of the Year — Women Chefs and Restaurateurs: “Road to the White House Kitchen”

The Association for Women in Communications
Clarion Awards

  • American Academy of Physician Assistants: Career ComPAnion Manual (Internal Publication)
  • Building Bridges Initiative: Logo
  • Galvin Electricity Initiative: Sad Socket Ad Campaign (Print Advertising)
  • Vanguard Communications: Vanguard Blog (InSites: Blogging for Social Change)
  • Virginia Commonwealth University Center on Human Needs: Project on Societal Distress Snapshots/Infographics
  • Women Chefs and Restaurateurs: Calendar (Special Design/Creation)

The Stevie® Awards for Women in Business
Finalist; Best Overall Company of the Year, Advertising, Marketing, and Public Relations Service Business Up to 100 Employees—Vanguard Communications

The Webby Awards

  • Honoree—Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America: Website
  • Honoree—Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration: “Mental Health: It’s Part of All Our Lives” Website

Working Mother Magazine
25 Best Small Companies—Vanguard Communications