Pando PR Tips No. 52

Awards + Conference Submissions Due Dates

SmartBrief on EdTech Readers' Choice Awards 2025 — Nominations close May 9 ​
​This program celebrates companies and products making a lasting impact on the education industry. Winners announced on the SmartBrief Education Originals website, and in editorial coverage in an original SmartBrief Education newsletter. Entry fee is $595.

Best of STEM Awards — Awards open until June 4
​This is the only awards program—that we are aware of—specifically created for and judged by STEM educators. It's been running for several years and is well regarded. $695 for single entry. Discounts for multiples.

HR’s Rising Stars — Nominations are due June 6
​HR Executive has opened the 2025 nominations to recognize and celebrate HR’s Rising Stars across global industries.

Tech & Learning Best of Show Awards at ISTE 2025 — Entry deadline is June 20
​Honoring ​ exhibitors at ISTELive 2025, all nominees are invited to a special T&L reception at ISTE where the winners will be announced. Cost is $695 for a single entry. Discounts available for multiple entries.

The 2025 A.I. Awards — Entries due July 18
​There are over 25 categories including Best AI Integration and AI for Good Award here. Cost is $695 for the first entry or unlimited entries (same product) for $795. Entries by May 30, save $100.

Upcoming Conferences with Early Registration Discounts

Training’s TechLearn 2025 Conference — October 6-8, in New Orleans
​Save $300 on the TechLearn Conference and pay only $1,495 with the Super Early Bird rate. Even more discounts with a team or organizational registration.

Ragan's Future of Communications Conference — November 12-14 in Austin, Texas
​Hundreds of comms leaders and professionals will assemble to learn, connect, innovate, and strategize while charting the future of the communications discipline. Save money by registering by Aug 22.

What We're Reading

STEM Magazine
​STEM Mag is edited and compiled by Wayne Carley. Stories are varied but each issue usually is about a STEM industry like aerospace, automobile, chemical, or others). Carley accepts sponsors for each issue so in theory, you could sponsor an entire issue, distribute it to your contacts and prospects and fill it with stories about your products ​ and industry. Contact Wayne at Wayne@stemmagazine.com for more info.

EdTech Alliance
​See my article about Substacks here. EdTech Alliance is a good one to bookmark.

Join1440
​A colleague introduced me to https://join1440.com/ which is a news site dedicated to facts and stories written by humans, for humans. See the topic sheets mixing news with ​ ​ established content. There is also a newsletter and curated daily news.

Upcoming News and Social Pegs

Vote for these terrific teachers. One will win $10,000!

Our team is having a great time working on teacher recognition programs like this one from Tropical Smoothie Cafe. Twenty finalists were announced this week and they move on to the Grand Prize round where one teacher wins a $10,000 summer getaway and free smoothies for a year. Cash is also given to the school. Read the profiles and vote for your favorite teacher here. The program is sponsored by Tropical Smoothie Cafe and managed by our client, Campus Multimedia.