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 Washington, DC Chapter

 
 
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Information for Entrants and Judges

Competitions Home • Entrants • Judges • Schedules • Awards • Winners • Contacts • FAQs

About the Competitions

• How Can I Increase My Chances of Winning an Award?
• What Kind of Award Recognition Do I Receive?
• How Will I Be Notified?

How Can I Increase My Chances of Winning an Award?

You increase your chances of winning an award if the judges evaluating your entry have all the information they need to accurately evaluate it. This means that the more complete your entry form and entry description is, the better. We strongly encourage you to provide as much information as you can on the Competition Entry Description form. In addition, include screen shots of software, explanatory text, additional audience descriptions, unusual circumstances or budget restrictions that may have limited your project, and so forth to help judges evaluate your entry in context.

What Kind of Award Recognition Do I Receive?

In the Washington, DC Chapter, three levels of recognition are awarded in each competition category. These awards, in descending order, are

  • Distinguished Technical Communication (DTC)
  • Excellence
  • Merit

One Best of Show award is presented for each competition. Winners of the DTC and Best of Show award in each category qualify for automatic submission to STC's international competitions. The $125 international entry fee and shipping is paid for you by the chapter.

To be eligible for entry into one of the international competitions, an entry must win a Distinguished Technical Communication (DTC) award in a local competition. Entries to the international level are not accepted from individual submitters or contributors. At the international level, the awards structure is the same as at the local level.

If your entry wins an award, you will receive up to three (3) free award certificates, one for each contributor for the entry. If your entry receives Best of Show, you will receive a free engraved memento and up to three (3) free award certificates.

If there are more than 3 contributors, be sure you download and submit the Additional Contributors form with your entry. The additional contributors will be listed in the program. You may order additional certificates and engraved mementos for them. Order forms and prices are available from the About the Competition Awards page.

There are also free graphic award buttons to identify your entry as award-winning. For details, see STC WDC Competition Award Emblems.

How Will I Be Notified?

All entries are acknowledged. Whether you win an award or not, you will receive the local judges' evaluations of your entry.

Winners in the local competitions will be notified by mail in January 2008. Award certificates will be presented at the chapter's Awards Banquet on Saturday, 7 February. Winners who cannot attend the Banquet will receive their certificates by mail.

Winners in the international competitions will be notified before the Society's 56th STC Annual Conference to be held 3-6 May 2009, in Atlanta, Georgia. There, all winning entries will be displayed, the Best of Show awards will be presented, and all winners will be honored.

 

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