WMS-STC Competition

This year's awards are posted on our home page.

The WMS-STC Effective Communications Competition Awards banquet will be held April 23 in Grand Rapids. At the awards banquet, the winning entries will be displayed, and the awards presented.

Entries winning Distinguished awards at the chapter level are automatically entered in the international STC competition. Winners in the international competition will be notified before the STC annual conference (Tech Comm Summit, May 3-6 in Atlanta). At the conference, winning entries will be displayed, and the Best of Show awards will be presented.

Have you or your company produced technical communication products that you think are worthy of awards? Would you like your work to be recognized by your peers? Participate in the Society for Technical Communication (STC) competition.

Who is eligible?

Anyone is eligible to submit entries. You do not have to be a member of STC. You may enter work as an individual or on behalf of a colleague or subordinate.

What can you enter?

Entries in all categories must contain sufficient technical, scientific, medical, or similar content to qualify as technical communication. Entries must have been produced or substantially revised within 24 months preceding September 1 of the current year. Entries must have been originally prepared for and accepted for publication by a client, employer, or publisher. Entries are subject to all restrictions listed in the section of this document titled "Entry Rules."

How are the competitions structured?

STC's competitions recognize and encourage excellence in online communication, technical art, and technical publications. STC offers two levels of competition:

• Local and regional competitions
• The international competitions

Local and regional competitions are the first level of competition. Local competitions are held by single chapters; regional competitions by two or more chapters, usually in the same STC region.

The international competitions—the international online communication competition (IOCC), the international technical art competition (ITAC), and the international technical publications competition (ITPC)—are the second and final level of competition. Winners of the Distinguished Technical Communication award in each category of each local and regional competition are automatically submitted to the appropriate international competition. After you enter the local competition, no further action is required.

What awards could I receive?

The chapter presents three levels of awards in each competition category. These awards, in descending order, are

• Distinguished Technical Communication (DTC)
• Excellence
• Merit

The judges also select one entry in each category as the Best of Show. The WMS-STC Chapter sponsors the winners of the DTC and Best of Show award in each category in STC's international competitions.

The 2007 winner of the WMS-STC competition, Media 1, won the STC International Best of Show!

Contact competition chair Jill Bornemeier or Peggy Frizzo