(AUSTIN) — Senator Judith Zaffirini, D-Laredo, won six top honors at the National Federation of Press Women's (NFPW) Annual Communications Contest for her work published in 2016, the organization has announced.

Founded in 1937, NFPW champions First Amendment rights, promotes ethics in journalism and provides professional development and other valuable resources for professionals in communications.

Winning first place was Senator Zaffirini's speech accepting the Outstanding Alumna Award from the Moody College of Communication at The University of Texas at Austin. Contest judges commented that the speech contained "just the right touch of humor in sharing a personal story in a way students, professors and guests could relate."

Her series of press releases promoting voting and civic engagement won second place, and her third place winners were an ad campaign in the Laredo Morning Times and a press release about bills she pre-filed in advance of the 2017 legislative session. The senator's news releases are "well-written and provide important factual information to Texas voters," judges said. "Very much a public service to the senator's constituents."

Honorable Mention was awarded to her email newsletter and a published newspaper message commemorating the 100^th birthday of her cousin, John B. Alexander, who was killed in action in France in World War II.

"I am delighted to receive these meaningful awards from NFPW, a professional organization that long has championed effective communication, freedom of information and literacy," Senator Zaffirini said. "Communicating with my constituents is among my highest priorities, especially because it not only keeps them informed, but also leads to them suggesting great ideas for legislation."

Each of Senator Zaffirini's national award winners previously had won first place at the state Press Women of Texas (PWT) Communications Contest, at which she won 31 awards this year. Because of her multiple winning entries at the state level, she is a strong contender for winning her ninth Sweepstakes Award for accumulating more points than any other entrant. That award will be announced at PWT's annual conference June 24-25 in West, Texas.

The senator has won more than 900 awards for her professional and public service work, including more than 290 for communication projects. Second in seniority in the 31-member Texas Senate, she is the namesake of Texas A&M International University's Senator Judith Zaffirini Student Success Center, United ISD's Senator Judith Zaffirini Elementary School, Laredo Community College's Senator Judith Zaffirini Library, Lake Casa Blanca International State Park's Senator Judith Zaffirini Road and Edinburg's Judith Zaffirini Residential Treatment Center that focuses on fighting drug addiction.

Senator Zaffirini holds Bachelor of Science, Master of Arts and PhD degrees in communication from The University of Texas at Austin, which recently named her its outstanding communication alumna. While at UT, she served as a reporter, feature writer, copy editor, headline writer, assistant editor and special issue editor for The Daily Texan, which named her to its hall of fame in 2016. In 2015 and 1980 Senator Zaffirini was named PWT's Communicator of Achievement.

SENATOR JUDITH ZAFFIRINI, D-LAREDO, represents District 21 in the Texas Senate. A strong communicator on behalf of her constituents, she has won more than 290 awards for communication projects.

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