First Circle Award
PRAL annually honors a professional with an effective and successful career in public relations. The First Circle Award is the most prestigious honor PRAL can bestow upon one of its members.
The criteria for nomination and selection are as follows:
- Must have a minimum of five years as a PRAL or PRSA member;
- Must have a minimum of fifteen years in public relations or a related field;
- Must be recognized for high standards of professional and personal integrity; and
- Must show service to the profession through public service, volunteer work, and/or work with students, interns and young professionals.
Past Recipients
| 2025 | Catherine Heitman |
| 2024 | Trey Williams |
| 2023 | Cheryl Michelet |
| 2022 | Ginger Guttner, APR |
| 2021 | Michelle Clement, APR |
| 2020 | Kelly Zimmerman |
| 2018 | Stafford Wood, APR |
| 2017 |
Jinx Broussard, APR |
| 2016 | Angela Vanveckhoven |
| 2015 | Annette Droddy |
| 2014 | Kristine Calongne Sanders |
| 2013 | Glen Duncan, APR |
| 2012 | Sadie Wilks, APR |
| 2011 | John Deveney, APR, ABC, Fellow PRSA |
| 2010 | Kristi Williams, APR |
| 2009 | Delia Adams Taylor, APR |
| 2008 | Holly Houk Cullen, APR |
| 2007 | Rafael Bermudez |
| 2006 | Julie Madere McLin |
| 2005 | Lisa Froman |
| 2004 | Bob Johannessen |
| 2003 | Dudley Lehew, APR |
| 2002 | Susan Hunt, APR |
| 2001 | Rachel Emanuel, Ph.D. Marc Goldstein |
| 2000 | Mike Bourgeois |
| 1999 | Lane Barry |
| 1998 | Jan Breen |
| 1997 | Angela deGravelles |
| 1996 | Karla Swacker |
| 1995 | Elsie S. Hebert, Ph.D.* Perry Brandao* |
| 1994 | Carol B. Coltharp* |
| 1993 | Lucy Priddy* |
| 1992 | Gwen Bach Stewart, APR* Renee Smith-Tadie, APR |
| 1991 | John Butler, Ph.D., PRSA Fellow Jacqueline G. Bourgeois |
| 1990 | John Hightower, APR |
| 1989 | Sally Kuzenski, APR* |
| 1988 | William H. Moore, Sr.* Roland E. Daigre, Jr.* Jack H. Sanders* |
| 1987 | Roland Carson |
| 1986 | J. H. Martin Bill Bailey* Bill Michelet, APR* |
* Deceased


