National Recognition for Local Stories: CESA 6 Team Earns NSPRA Award of Excellence

Great stories have the power to inspire, connect, and build pride within a school community. That's exactly what CESA 6's Marketing and Communications team strives to do every day, and now that work has earned national recognition.

We're excited to celebrate Alex Giardina, Videographer, and Jillian Aykens, Marketing & Communications Consultant, who received a 2026 National School Public Relations Association (NSPRA) Award of Excellence for their video, Proud to Be a Polar Bear!

The NSPRA Publications and Digital Media Awards recognize outstanding achievement in school communications from organizations across the country. The Award of Excellence is the program's highest honor within each category, recognizing exceptional creativity, strategic communication, and storytelling.

Bringing School Stories to Life

Every school has a story worth telling.

For Alex and Jill, creating Proud to Be a Polar Bear! meant capturing more than just beautiful footage. It meant showcasing the pride, culture, and experiences that make a school community unique. Through thoughtful interviews, cinematic visuals, and authentic moments, the video reflects what it truly means to be a Polar Bear.

"Alex and Jill have an incredible ability to tell meaningful stories that connect with students, families, staff, and the community," said Erin Calvin, Executive Director of Operational Solutions. "This national recognition reflects not only their creativity and technical expertise, but also their passion for helping schools celebrate what makes them special."

Their collaboration demonstrates how intentional storytelling can strengthen connections between schools, families, students, staff, and the broader community.

Celebrating the People Behind the Camera

While the finished video is what audiences see, projects like this are the result of creativity, planning, collaboration, and countless hours behind the scenes.

Alex's eye for visual storytelling and Jill's strategic communications expertise came together to create a piece that not only celebrates a school community but also represents the high-quality work CESA 6 provides to districts across Wisconsin.

Receiving national recognition from NSPRA is a reflection of their talent, dedication, and passion for helping schools share the stories that matter most.

Why Storytelling Matters

School communications is about much more than sharing information. It's about building trust, celebrating achievements, and helping communities understand the incredible things happening in their schools every day.

At CESA 6, we're proud to partner with districts to create videos, photography, branding, and communications that elevate their voices and highlight the people who make education extraordinary.

Congratulations to Alex Giardina and Jill Aykens on this well-deserved national recognition. We're incredibly proud of your work and grateful for the impact you continue to make through the stories you tell.

Read more about NSPRA here. And learn more about CESA 6’s marketing and communications team here.