The City of Hickory was recognized among 39 North Carolina jurisdictions honored in the North Carolina City & County Communicators (NC3C) 2026 Excellence in Communications Awards. Competing in the small population category, Hickory earned five awards, including two first‑place and three third‑place distinctions.
Awards were presented on April 9 during NC3C’s annual conference. This year’s competition set new records, with 266 entries evaluated by communications professionals from the Minnesota Association of Government Communicators.
“As our organization has grown over the last two decades, the awards contest has become increasingly more competitive each year,” said NC3C President Adam Gaub. “This year’s contest saw entries increase by more than 33 percent from last year’s record-setting amount. Phenomenal work is being done by communicators across the Tar Heel State, and any organization taking home an award this year should be extremely proud of their success.”
The City of Hickory received first‑place awards in the Graphic Design and Brochure categories for its most recent Crafting Hickory Magazine. Produced by the City’s Office of Communications, the high-quality publication blends storytelling, vibrant photography, and clear messaging to reflect Hickory’s brand, Life. Well Crafted. Distributed across multiple platforms, the magazine supports business recruitment, tourism, community engagement, and efforts to elevate Hickory’s identity as a thriving destination. Its central goal is to provide an aesthetically engaging, accessible format that highlights City initiatives and local stories in one comprehensive publication.
Hickory earned a third‑place award in the Video – Public Service Announcement category and a third-place award in the Most Creative with Least Dollars Spent category for its creative James Pond Stormwater video. Developed at no cost, the PSA features “James Pond,” a secret-agent rubber duck on a mission through drains, creeks, and Lake Hickory to reveal how everyday habits influence water quality. With its humor and spy‑themed storytelling, the video reached thousands of viewers and successfully boosted stormwater education efforts.
A third‑place award in the Audio category recognized the City’s Trash Talk Tuesday Theme Song. Created by the Office of Communications, the upbeat, AI-generated track supports the City’s waste disposal and recycling education campaign. Its catchy lyrics and modern sound helped drive thousands of impressions across digital channels, furthering sustainability messaging and reinforcing community pride.
“Hickory’s Office of Communications works hard all year to keep residents engaged and informed using a variety of tools, so it is rewarding to see these efforts recognized by our peers through the NC3C awards program,” said Communications and Marketing Manager Dana Kaminske. “I am proud of our staff, and these awards showcase just a few of the amazing projects created by the Communications team. We are appreciative of the recognition by this professional state organization.”
The purpose of North Carolina City & County Communicators is to encourage professional development and networking among local governmental communications professionals. The organization was formed in March 2007 and consists of professional government communicators from around the state. For more information about NC3C, visit www.nc3c.com.