Pat Landen Award
For Excellence in the field of Public Communications
PRA’s annual Pat Landen Award is named in honor of Frances “Pat” Landen, familiar face in Peoria public relations for years, until her death in 1985.
Pat received a Bachelor’s degree in journalism, history and political science. She was the first editor of the Peoria Voter, a monthly newsletter for the Peoria League of Women Voters. An orginal staff member of Lakeview Center (now Lakeview Museum of Arts and Sciences), she served as director of publications there for 11 years. As administrative assistant for the Peoria Park District, she published flyers, brochures and newsletters, as well as historical pieces, which were published as a weekly column in a local paper. She received the Achievement Award for Communications at the YWCA Leader Communications at the YWCA Leader Luncheon in 1981, and was a charter member and board member of PRA.
- Award Criteria
- The nominee may be an individual or group serving in a public communications capacity for a private, not-for-profit or government agency in the central Illinois region.
- The award honors performance in a single public communications effort or extended campaign during the prior calendar year (January 1-December 31.)
- Although the nominator must be a member in good standing of PRA, the nominee need not be a member.
- Entries are judged using the following criteria:
- Does the entry clearly address its objectives and evaluate the campaign based on those objectives? 30 points
- Does the entry use creative and original ideas for communicating with its audiences? 30 points
- Are selected media used appropriately and effectively? 20 points
- Is the writing clear, concise, interesting and grammatically correct? 10 points
- Is the main theme or message consistent throughout the campaign?10 points
- Pat Landen Award Winners
- 1986 - Maggie Nelson, Peoria Public Library
- 1987 - Bob Armstrong, Lakeview Museum
- 1988 - Gene Holmes, WHOI-TV; and University Public Relations, Bradley University
- 1989 - Judi Boyer, United Way
- 1990 - Alice Weinger, Lakeview Museum; and Sun Foundation Cousteau Planning Committee
- 1991 - Suzette Boulais, Counseling & Family Service
- 1992 - The Observer
- 1993 - Linda Hampton, Tri-centennial Celebration
- 1994 - Junior League of Peoria, Race for the Cure; and Ann Franklin, American Red Cross, Central Illinois Chapter
- 1995 - Pam Rumba, PR Associates
- 1996 - Steve Tarter, GP Transit
- 1997 - Bradley University, University Relations Division
- 1998 - Heart of Illinois United Way Marketing and Communications Committee
- 1999 - The Salvation Army
- 2000 - Illinois Central College
- 2001 - The Peoria Civic Center and Feld Entertainment
- 2002 - The City of East Peoria
- 2003 - Journal Star - Peoria Reads
- 2004 - Pekin Public Library
- 2005 - Sandra Mitchell - Luthy Botanical Gardens - City in Bloom
- 2006 - Kelly Walz - Peoria Park District/Glen Oak Amphitheatre - Return to Hogwarts
- 2007 - Kate Donovan, McKenna Pencak, Lyndsey Withers and Amy Zepp - Creative Communications Group for My Dog’s Bakery Trick or Treat Your Pet
- 2008 - Trisha Noack and Bob Meismer - Peoria Public Library - Close the Gaps: Libraries for All
- 2010 - J’s Event Planning and PAWAC - Celebrate Lebanon!