Âܲ·AVÊÓÆµWins Gold TRENDY Award for Best Advocacy Campaign

March 06, 2026

AASA, Âܲ·AVÊÓÆµ, has been honored with the gold TRENDY Award for Best Advocacy Campaign by , one of the association management community’s most respected honors. The award recognizes AASA’s FY25 Funding Freeze on Students Across America campaign, a rapid-response advocacy initiative that mobilized school system leaders nationwide and helped secure the release of approximately $7 billion in federally appropriated education funds.

5 Âܲ·AVÊÓÆµStaff pose for group picture at the 2026 Salute to Association Excellence Luncheon
From L to R: Amiela Arcellana, Âܲ·AVÊÓÆµMarketing Coordinator; Meghan Moran, Âܲ·AVÊÓÆµSenior Director of Marketing and Communications; Kat Sturdevant, AASA Advocacy & Governance Manager; Sasha Pudelski, Âܲ·AVÊÓÆµAdvocacy Director; and Jay Goldman, Âܲ·AVÊÓÆµEditor of School Administrator. Staff receive the award at the 2026 Salute to Association Excellence ceremony in Washington, D.C.

The campaign generated extraordinary media impact, earning Âܲ·AVÊÓÆµ1,885 media stories in July 2025. Coverage spanned the Associated Press, The New York Times, The Washington Post, NPR’s All Things Considered, Good Morning America, CNN, Newsweek, The Atlantic, and dozens of national and local education outlets. AASA’s social media engagement during the campaign reached an 8.7% engagement rate — more than triple the association’s typical average and the nonprofit industry benchmark.

By transforming superintendent voices into compelling testimonials and maintaining sustained pressure on decision-makers, Âܲ·AVÊÓÆµwas instrumental in securing the full release of FY25 education funds and helped protect essential services and programs for millions of America’s children.

The TRENDY Awards, presented by Association Trends, celebrate the most innovative and effective work in association communications, marketing, and advocacy.

 

Âܲ·AVÊÓÆµ
AASA, Âܲ·AVÊÓÆµ, founded in 1865, is the professional organization for more than 13,000 educational leaders in the United States and throughout the world. AASA’s mission is to support and develop effective school system leaders who are dedicated to equitable access for all students to the highest quality public education. For more information, visit www.aasa.org. &²Ô²ú²õ±è;