PROTOS Awards 2026

Mark your calendars! The 2026 PROTOS Awards Gala will take place on Thursday, September 24, 2026, at Orange Hill Restaurant. Save the date and stay tuned for additional event details, ticket information, sponsorship opportunities, and upcoming announcements.

This year’s theme, “Where Influencer Meets Intention,” celebrates the evolving intersection of purposeful communications, spotlighting the power of influence when paired with strategy, authenticity, and impact.

The 2026 PROTOS Awards Gala will once again bring together Orange County’s leading communications professionals for an evening dedicated to honoring excellence, creativity, and measurable results across the industry. From standout campaigns and strategic storytelling to influencer relations, social media innovation, community engagement, multicultural communications, and emerging talent, the PROTOS continue to spotlight the work shaping the future of the profession.

The 2026 Call for Entries includes complete submission guidelines, eligibility requirements, deadlines, and category details.

For the 2026 PROTOS Awards Call for Entries, which includes full details and instructions, click HERE.   
For the full list of Categories, click HERE.
For the Entry Form, click HERE.
For Online Entry Payment, click HERE.

Eligibility

The competition is open to both OCPRSA members and non-members representing Orange County-based organizations, campaigns, events, agencies, or clients. Entries may be submitted by agencies, corporations, nonprofit organizations, government entities, educational institutions, students, and independent practitioners.

Eligible work must have been produced, published, or substantially implemented between June 1, 2025 and May 31, 2026, and may not have been entered into previous PROTOS competitions. Individuals submitting work completed on behalf of a former employer or client must obtain appropriate permission prior to submission.

There is no limit to the number of entries an individual or organization may submit.

Tips for Preparing a Winning PROTOS Entry

Looking to strengthen your submission? Review our educational resources designed to help entrants craft compelling, results-driven entries that stand out to judges.

Explore the "Crafting a Winning PROTOS Entry" presentation by Susan Van Barneveld, APR, and watch the "PROTOS Panel: How to Create a Campaign that Wins" featuring insights and strategies from past PROTOS winners and industry professionals.

Important Dates

Early Bird Deadline: Monday, June 8, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. PT
Regular Deadline: Monday, June 15, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. PT
Final Deadline: Friday, June 19, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. PT

Entry Fees

Submission Period	OCPRSA Members	Non-Members	Students
Early Bird — By Monday, June 8, 2026 (11:59 p.m. PT)	$125 per entry	$150 per entry	$95 per entry
Regular Deadline — By Monday, June 15, 2026 (11:59 p.m. PT)	$175 per entry	$205 per entry	$110 per entry
Final Deadline — By Friday, June 19, 2026 (11:59 p.m. PT)	$195 per entry	$225 per entry	$125 per entry

For payment-related questions, please contact [email protected].

Looking To Get More Involved With PROTOS?

The PROTOS Awards are made possible through the support of dedicated volunteers, industry leaders, sponsors, and communications professionals throughout Orange County. Whether you are interested in sponsorship opportunities, volunteering, judging, or supporting event production, we invite you to become part of this year’s celebration of excellence in communications and public relations. Please reach out to [email protected].

Previous Top PROTOS Honors

2025 PROTOS “PR Elevated: Celebrating Excellence Above the Noise”
Best in Show: City of Hope Orange County and Reveille, Inc. for “The Music of Hope"
Distinguished Service Award – Individual: Elena Bosch, APR
Rick Miltenberger Mentorship Award: Erika Muir

2024 PROTOS “Revving Up Recognition”
Best in Show: Powerhouse+Co. for "Veggie Grill Store Closures"
Distinguished Service Award – Individual: Angela Burrell, APR
Rick Miltenberger Mentorship Award: Dan Nasitka
Hermes Award – Linda Martin, APR

2023 PROTOS “Diamond Jubilee”
Best in Show: Reveille, Inc. and City of Hope Orange County for "City of Hope OC Lennar Foundation Cancer Center Grand Opening"
Lifetime Legacy Award – Les Goldberg, APR
Distinguished Service Award – Organization: Experian
Distinguished Service Award – Individual: Ken Hagihara, APR, Fellow PRSA, MCM
Rick Miltenberger Mentorship Award: Kristin Daher

2022 PROTOS “Collective Intelligence”
Best in Show: Westbound Communications for “San Bernardino County 2021 Voter Education”
Distinguished Service Award – Organization: OC Forum
Distinguished Service Award – Individual: Charla Jeannine Batey, MBA, APR
Rick Miltenberger Mentorship Award: Matt Prince

2021 PROTOS “Harder. Better. Faster. Stronger.”
Best in Show: Westbound Communications for “County of Orange 2020 Census Campaign”
Distinguished Service Award – Organization: Reveille, Inc.
Distinguished Service Award – Individual: Christopher Trela
Rick Miltenberger Mentorship Award: Brenda Deeley

2020 PROTOS “The New Frontier”
Best in Show: Orange County Health Care Agency for “Could it be COVID?”
Distinguished Service Award – Organization: Providence St. Joseph Health
Distinguished Service Award – Individual: David Cordero, APR
Rick Miltenberger Mentorship Award: Teri Sawyer

2019 PROTOS “Rev Up”
Best in Show: Powerhouse Communications for Tsurutokame “Mission” Campaign
Distinguished Service Award – Organization: Taylor Digital
Distinguished Service Award – Individual: Matt Prince
Rick Miltenberger Mentorship Award: Les J. Goldberg, APR

2018 PROTOS “#Inspired”
Best in Show: Ray Public Relations and ABBYY
Distinguished Service Award – Organization: Taco Bell Corp.
Distinguished Service Award – Individual: Tim Mead2017 PROTOS “Unstoppable”
Distinguished Service Award – Organization: Anaheim Ducks
Distinguished Service Award – Individual: Danny Craig, APR

2016 PROTOS “Discover OC’s Best in PR”
Distinguished Service Award – Organization: University of California, Irvine
Distinguished Service Award – Individual: Carolyn Kim, APR

2015 PROTOS “Anchored in Excellence”
Distinguished Service Award – Individual: Rebecca Hall, APR

2014 PROTOS “Orange is the New Gold”
Distinguished Service Award – Individual: Scott Smith

2013 PROTOS “Fly Away to PROTOS”
Distinguished Service Award – Individual: Katie Coates, APR

2013 PROTOS “A Fair to Remember”
Distinguished Service Award – Individual: Ted Nguyen

Records for some awards are missing. Please excuse any accidental errors. To request your campaign, name or organization be included as a top PROTOS award recipient, please contact [email protected] with proof of your award for consideration.

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