Education

ESD 113 communications team wins 12 state awards

By Capitol Record staff · November 2, 2026 · 1 min read

The award-winning projects included levy and bond campaigns, branding packages, videography and writing produced in partnership with school districts and state and regional education partners, according to the agency. Courtesy: @esd_113 / Instagram

The five-person communications team at Educational Service District (ESD) 113 brought home 12 statewide awards for work with local school districts and education partners.

ESD 113 received the honors from the Washington School Public Relations Association (WSPRA) Communications Awards Program, the agency announced Oct. 28. The awards spanned three tiers: Awards of Excellence, Awards of Merit and Honorable Mention, as reported by The JOLT News Organization.

Two projects earned "Best in Category" recognition for districts serving more than 15,000 students: the ESD 113 Report to the Community and an article titled "ESD 113 Launches Bicycle Education Program," ESD 113 said in an Instagram post.

The award-winning projects included levy and bond campaigns, branding packages, videography and writing produced in partnership with school districts and state and regional education partners, according to the agency.

The team picked up the awards at the annual WSPRA conference in Leavenworth. It covers not only Thurston County districts, including Olympia and Tumwater, but also Grays Harbor, Lewis, Mason and Pacific counties.

The staff behind the work: Kristen Jaudon, Kaitlyn Hall, Seley Nemish, Jada Current and Mishele Barnett.

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Roveena Chand Jassal

Roveena Chand Jassal

Editor, Surround Sound Media

Roveena Chand Jassal is Surround Sound Media's very first news producer with a vibrant background in magazine and print journalism herself. Starting off in beauty and fashion at Women's Health Magazine and featuring my own mom and friends in an InStyle South Asian beauty traditions feature, I knew I had a passion for shining light on multicultural voices, especially growing up in the Chicago suburbs. After attending fashion shows in Miami and trying out products for Black Friday deals, I had a desire to do more serious reporting, and found myself being the youngest Punjabi Sikh journalist at Toronto Star. It was here where I really felt a connection to the diverse community I serve, from running around on the ground investigating international students being exploited for overpriced housing to amplifying those same students who have been able to find peace and confidence in the city's growing Hip Hop scene. I've had the opportunity to interview major celebrities, government officials, businesses, and creators, but what I enjoy most of all is being a contradicting human being because this truth is what allows me to pick and produce real stories that give a community true knowledge of their contradicting human being selves too.

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