IWPA’s Mate E. Palmer Professional and High School Communications Contests

The 2025 Contest Entry Submission Period for both
programs is now OPEN. Click here to get started. Good luck!

The Professional Contest (scroll down for more details on the High School competition):

The Mate E. Palmer Communications Contest, open to member and non-member students, journalists, public relations personnel, bloggers, designers, columnists, photographers, authors and many other types of communicators, is the premier contest of its kind at the both the state and national level.

Entering is easy, inexpensive, rewarding and a fantastic professional or freelance resume boost. We encourage communicators of all disciplines to take advantage of this opportunity to be recognized for their work. Enjoy professional accolades that open doors, a great networking conversation starter and a place in Illinois Woman’s Press Association/National Federation of Press Women history.

Membership Status	1st Entry Fee	2nd Entry
Member	$20.00	$15.00
Non-Member	$25.00	$20.00

*A one-time, $25 late entry fee is assessed to all professional contest entrants after the NOON January 29, 2025 deadline.

State affiliate first place winners progress to judging in the NFPW’s national contest at no extra charge. The NFPW’s highest point earners by state and individual receive cash awards!

Affiliate State Sweepstakes Winner: $100
Individual Sweepstakes Winner: $250

Other Benefits:

IWPA Member Discount: $20 for the first submission, $15 for each additional entry ($25/$20 for non-members)
Critical Peer Review: Entries receive written feedback from a professional judge working in his or her respective field
Ease: Online contest portal allows for a simple, paperless entry
Public Relations: Winner’s names are promoted via traditional and electronic press release, Association newsletter and a full suite of social media platforms

Benefits of Membership:

Annual student membership: $35. Professional NFPW/IWPA membership: $105. IWPA State-Only Professional dues: $30
Access to mentoring opportunities, reduced contest entry and event fees, and venues for promoting/selling your work
Board positions and leadership opportunities, which make an invaluable resume builder

The High School Contest (scroll up for more details on the professional competition):

Gather your entries and submit by February 19, 2025 at noon!

The High School Communications Contest is open to students of all genders from public and private schools throughout Illinois. Categories include news writing, photography, layout, yearbook, blogs, environment, video, and more!

All high school contest entries must have been published, e-published, broadcast, or issued between February 1, 2024, and February 15, 2025

The cost is $10 per entry, and each is reviewed by an expert in the category and given constructive feedback.

The high school that earns the most points across categories receives the Silver Pen Award, along with a cash prize!

You can find additional rules and information here.

Here is the most direct link to enter the IWPA High School Communications Contest. From there, click “Enter the High School Contest,” next to “Enter the Professional Contest.” Make sure you check the categories’ requirements before submitting.

All first-place winners at the state level go on to compete in the national contest sponsored by the National Federation of Press Women. The NFPW High School Communications Contest is one of only a few nationwide communications competitions for high school students. It inspires some of the best student communicators from across the country to do outstanding work in their quest for excellence.