Special Events

This award is presented to the best special event, such as media event or press day, non-media events such as exhibit, information booth, educational presentation, etc. 

This is awarded one per each region and among those, an international winner is selected.

Each agency may submit only ONE entry.

Criteria for selection:

  • Innovative strategy behind the event/project
  • Execution of the event/project


2024 Winners

International and Region 2

Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles

Community Support for Boy with Leukemia, Angad

In August, Public Affairs Officer Greg Bueno with Florida Highway Patrol (FHP), a division of Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV), was contacted by a family whose two-year-old son, Angad, was suffering from leukemia. Angad is a fan of law enforcement and loves to see the lights and hear the sirens. With this knowledge, PAO Bueno along with several other law enforcement agencies created an event to show Angad that the feeling was mutual. With at least six different agencies represented, troopers, deputies, and officers held a "parade" for Angad in his neighborhood to show their support and encouragement for him to feel better and to continue to fight for his life. Several months later, PAO Bueno and his troop held a 3rd birthday party for Angad, gifting him with a mini FHP vehicle, a certificate honoring him as a junior trooper for the day, and raising community support for Angad as he continues his journey to fight leukemia. Because of the event promotion, people from all over contacted his mother to offer support and to tell Angad to get better and offer well wishes.

Region 1

Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration

"Conversations with Chrissy" Podcast

When the Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration was planning the next steps of their digital strategy late last year, one of the questions the team sought to answer was how to highlight all the great programs, partnerships, and employees outside of what the agency was already doing. The answer came in the form of a podcast. “Conversations with Chrissy” is a monthly podcast where host and Motor Vehicle Administrator Chrissy Nizer has one-on-one in-depth conversations with agency partners and leading transportation and safety officials. When planning for guests, the overall strategy is to focus on topics that are impacting Marylanders – whether it is motor vehicle or highway safety related, including MVA programs and services, highway safety enforcements, and trending topics. One of the most memorable podcasts to date was in August 2023, when the agency recorded a two-part series that featured several past MVA administrators including Marshall Rickert, Anne Ferro, John Kuo, and Milton Chaffee. The series focused on the evolution of the agency under each of the past administrator’s tenures and how each administrator built off the legacy of the person before them. “Conversations with Chrissy” provides content for other MVA collaborations, including the monthly employee newsletter and the agency’s social media platforms. The video from each podcast is used to make promotional social media posts such as Instagram Reels and YouTube shorts. This allows the agency to provide engaging content while educating its customers and employees. The podcast is available on all major streaming platforms and has garnered more than 4,100 downloads.

Listen to the podcast here.

Region 3

Iowa Department of Transportation, Motor Vehicle Division

Davenport, Iowa Building Collapse

In a moment of crisis on May 28, 2023, in Davenport, Iowa, when the Davenport One apartment complex collapsed, displacing 54 residents and several businesses, the Iowa DMV team members demonstrated exceptional resilience and dedication to community service. The Red Cross mobilized a multi-agency coalition comprising 15 organizations to aid the residents in the challenging task of rebuilding their lives. The Iowa DMV team quickly assembled the necessary equipment to assist the residents with obtaining duplicates of their driver's licenses or IDs. With less than 24 hours to prepare, overcoming logistical challenges, including a 5-hour round trip to obtain equipment, organizing volunteers, and solving problems on the spot, the team exemplified a commitment to community service. The staff demonstrated exceptional dedication by traveling across the state to obtain vital mobile equipment, skillfully coordinating resources, and providing valuable support for the event. In total, they successfully assisted 15 community members in obtaining critical identification documents, with ongoing efforts to support three more individuals from out of state.

Region 4

Washington State Patrol

2023 WSP Legislative Tour

The Washington State Patrol (WSP) hosted a fair-style legislative tour with members of the Washington State Legislature. The tour included individuals and programs from across the agency, including the Field Operations Bureau, Criminal Investigations Division, Bomb Squad, Explosives K9 Teams, Training Academy, VIN Inspection, Wellness Team, Impaired Driving Section, and countless others. The tour included a lunch on the academy grounds and tour of the firing range, driving range, and gymnasium. The objective of the tour was to provide a one-stop shop for state decision makers to better understand what the agency does and the tools they use to conduct their duties. The strategy and tactics included inviting well in advanced and creating a one-stop shop for the ease of schedules. The outcome resulted in the largest event of its kind creating a two-way conversation and understanding between the agency and the legislators in attendance.