Anderson 3 made history at the 2025 SCNSPRA Rewards Program, bringing home a record number of awards, including the district's first-ever Golden Achievement Awards and a Best in Show trophy for School-Level Photography.
The South Carolina Chapter of the National School Public Relations Association (SCNSPRA) honored Anderson 3 with several Publication & Electronic Media Awards and Golden Achievement Awards at its 2025 Rewards for Excellence Awards Ceremony, recognizing excellence in writing, family engagement, website content, photography, and overall communication strategy.
For the first time, school-level submissions were included, and they delivered big.
🏆 Golden Achievement Awards:
Anderson 3: Transforming Community Engagement Through Social Media Excellence 📱
This district-wide campaign focused on shifting Anderson 3's social media from simply informative to deeply engaging. The goal was to create a modern, branded, and people-first approach to storytelling that better connected families, staff, and stakeholders to the daily life of the district. This initiative resulted in substantial growth in social media engagement and followers, a stronger brand identity across platforms, and a more consistent and known presence that has boosted the district's standings in the area, region, and state. Overall, it is a demonstration of how Anderson 3 has transformed how it communicates, building trust, transparency, and pride from the inside out.Flat Rock Elementary: Shining a Light Through Family Engagement 📣
This submission was an overall look at how Flat Rock Elementary has improved communication top to bottom and inside and out, working to enhance and promote transparent and effective communication to families in various forms, including newsletters, social media posts, digital/paper flyers, and many other school messaging efforts. As a result, Flat Rock has seen increased family participation, stronger school-home relationships, and a noticeable boost in student confidence. The initiative is a model for how thoughtful communication and creative planning can shine a light on family engagement.
📸 Photography Award — Best in Show:
"After the Storm, We Shine: Starr Elementary's Community Gathering Following Helene"
This powerful collection of photos earned top honors in the Photography category, showcasing the heart of Starr Elementary and the Starr community following Hurricane Helene.
✍️ Publication & Electronic Media Awards:
"Raising the Bar: Flat Rock Elementary's Path to Excellence" – Excellence in Writing
"After the Storm, We Shine: Starr Elementary's Community Gathering Following Helene" - Photography
"acsd3.org: A Modern Hub for Communication & Engagement" – Website Category
"FRES Spells Success" – Photography Category
"Anderson 3: Stronger Than the Storm" – Photography Category
These awards reflect the hard work of many across the district, with special recognition to Carly Herron, Reading Coach at Flat Rock Elementary, and Ariel Davis, Assistant Principal of Starr Elementary, who serve as media and brand ambassadors for their schools. Their vision, collaboration, and storytelling help tell the stories of their school communities, bringing students and staff into the spotlight.
"These awards don't just honor great content — they celebrate the relationships, resilience, and pride that make Anderson 3 special," said Dylan McCullough, Chief Communications Officer for the district. "We are grateful to SCNSPRA for recognizing the power of our people and our stories."