Judges awarded Sen. Judith Zaffirini's Governor for a Day entry a Best of Texas Silver Award in the Texas Public Relations Association's annual competition. The Silver Award is the highest honor bestowed in the Best of Texas division of the statewide contest, which is conducted annually by the Public Relations Foundation of Texas, a nonprofit subsidiary of TPRA. Sen. Zaffirini, D-Laredo, served as Governor for a Day on April 19. Her entry focused on that event.

"The senator's entry was excellent, very interesting and certainly not the usual entry," said contest coordinator Tony Turbeville, who recently notified winners of the judges' decisions.

Awards committee chair and TPRA president George Arnold of Evans Advertising and Public Relations presented the awards at a banquet recently at the Hyatt Regency in Austin during TPRA's annual conference. Wally Pryor, the voice of the Texas Longhorns, served as banquet master of ceremonies.

A host of celebrity presenters assisted Evans, including Terry Likona, "Austin City Limits" producer; Darrell Royal, former University of Texas coach; and Roland Swenson, SXSW Conference founder and managing director.

Best of Texas Awards recognize outstanding achievement using individual communications tools in support of specific public relations objectives. The senator's entry was one of two Silver Award winners in the special event category for one-time promotional programs. The competition attracted more than 300 entries in all categories.

The multi-faceted entry included informational press releases, media advisories, video tapes and the invitation to her inauguration at the State Capitol. The entry's focal point was an eight-page, four-color program about Gov. Zaffirini, her family and the event, which attracted more than 3,000 Texans. Sen. Zaffirini is the first Hispanic woman and only the fifth woman to serve as Governor for a Day.

"I am proud the entry received highest honors in statewide competition," said Sen. Zaffirini. "It represents a successful team effort to make Governor for a Day an event that was enjoyed by thousands of constituents and friends from Senate District 21."

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