Polaris Awards
The PRSA Inland Empire Polaris Awards celebrate excellence, professionalism, and success in public relations and communications. These awards recognize exemplary work that demonstrates sound research, planning, implementation, and evaluation — the core of effective public relations.
Winning entries represent the highest standards of PR and communications excellence within the Inland Empire.
Sponsor the Polaris Awards Gala
Organizations that provide products or services to the public relations, communications, or marketing industry are invited to sponsor the PRSA Inland Empire Polaris Awards Gala.
Sponsorship provides valuable brand visibility and direct access to PR and communications professionals across industries, including agency, education, entertainment, healthcare, government, nonprofit, and more.
Contact the Polaris Committee to secure your sponsorship for this year’s event.
Polaris Awards Gala
Each year, the Polaris Awards Gala brings together Inland Empire PR, communications, and marketing professionals to celebrate award winners and industry excellence.
📅 2025 Gala Date: November 13, 2025
📍 Location: Crestmore Manor, Riverside
Purchase Gala Tickets
Explore Sponsorship Opportunities
Submitting Your Entries
2025 Entry Portal Status
🚫 The 2025 Polaris Awards entry portal is now closed.
Thank you to everyone who submitted entries!
Entry Categories
PRSA Inland Empire offers three major submission categories. Each category includes multiple subcategories. Entrants are encouraged to review all options to select the most appropriate category for their work. View category descriptions here.
Campaigns
Large-scale, multi-faceted programs incorporating multiple tactics. Entries must demonstrate all four stages of public relations: Research, Planning, Implementation, and Evaluation (RPIE).
Tactics
Focused efforts or individual initiatives. Entries must demonstrate all four stages of public relations: Research, Planning, Implementation, and Evaluation (RPIE).
Student Projects
Open to undergraduate and graduate students submitting work completed for a PR course. Projects may include press kits, campaign proposals, or special event proposals. Submissions are judged on effective use of the four-step PR process.
Eligibility
The Polaris Awards are open to:
- PRSA Inland Empire members
- Non-members serving the Inland Empire
The Inland Empire is defined as Riverside and San Bernardino counties.
There is no limit to the number of entries per category. Submissions must meet at least one of the following criteria:
- The company or client resides in the Inland Empire (except student projects)
- The program or project was implemented within the Inland Empire
- Work completed for a former employer or client may be submitted with permission
Eligibility Period:
All work must have been completed between July 1, 2024 and June 30, 2025 and must not have been entered in prior Polaris competitions.
2025 Entry Fees
PRSA-IE Members
- Early Bird (through July 25): $95
- Standard (July 26–August 8): $115
- Extended (August 9–15): $120
Non-Members
- Early Bird (through July 25): $115
- Standard (July 26–August 8): $130
- Extended (August 9–15): $135
Students
- Early Bird (through July 25): $25
- Standard (July 26–August 8): $35
- Extended (August 9–15): $40
Entry Guidelines
All entries must meet the following requirements. Noncompliance will result in disqualification.
Project Summary
- Two-page typed description (8.5” x 11”, minimum 0.5” margins)
- Must explain how Research, Planning, Implementation, and Evaluation were applied
- Separate page with:
- 60-word project description
- One representative image (used during awards presentation if selected)
Supporting Materials
May include:
- Program plans
- Budgets
- Images
- Scripts
- Media clips
- Video or audio files
Items over 50MB should be submitted via URL or screenshots with links included in a PDF.
Packaging Your Entry
All entries must:
- Be submitted as a single PDF (10MB max)
- Include the completed entry form with:
- Category number and title
- Entrant name, company, and email
- Include proof of payment
- Include all entrant information for group submissions
File naming format:CompanyName_EntryName_Category_Subcategory
(Example: PRSAIE_JuneteenthParade_Campaigns_MulticulturalCommunications)
Submitting Your Entry
Entries must be submitted through a personal or professional Google Drive account.
Grant sharing access to: [email protected]
Note: All entries will become the property of the PRSA Inland Empire Chapter.
Judging Criteria
All entries are evaluated by a PRSA sister chapter using the criteria below. Judges assess how effectively each submission demonstrates strategic thinking, execution, and results using the RPIE (Research, Planning, Implementation, and Evaluation) model.
- Polaris Award: 90+ points
- Capella Award: 75–89 points
- Best in Show: Highest Campaign category score
Scoring Breakdown
- Overall Presentation (Up to 10 pts)
- Entries should be well-organized, professional, and easy to review. Submissions must adhere to all entry guidelines and clearly present information in a polished, cohesive format.
- Introduction (Up to 10 pts)
- Provide a concise overview of your organization and the program or project being submitted. Explain why the entry fits its selected category, when the work was conducted, the entrant’s role, and the purpose of the program or project. Clearly describe how the work benefited or is benefiting the organization.
- Research (Up to 20 pts)
- Describe the primary and/or secondary research used to identify the problem or opportunity addressed by the entry. Include how the research informed planning and decision-making, and explain how the research was conducted and applied.
- Planning (Up to 20 pts)
- Outline the strategic plan for the program or project. Judges will evaluate the clarity and strength of your goals, strategies, target audiences, timelines, budgets, and SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound) objectives, as well as creativity and alignment with research findings.
- Implementation (Up to 20 pts)
- Explain how the plan was executed, including the tactics and techniques used. Describe how challenges were addressed and identify any participating or cooperating agencies and their roles. If advertising materials were used, demonstrate that advertising costs did not exceed one-third of the total program budget.
- Evaluation / Results (Up to 20 pts)
- Demonstrate how the program or project met or exceeded its SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound) objectives using measurable and meaningful results. Clearly explain the evaluation methods used and quantify outcomes whenever possible.
On-Demand Webinar
Need help preparing your entry? Watch the July 17, 2025 webinar: Winning with RPIE: Your Roadmap to Polaris-Winning Campaigns.
Contact Us
For questions about the Polaris Awards, entries, or sponsorship opportunities, contact the Polaris Committee at [email protected].
