Competition Overview

Gearing Up for Value: STC Houston Competition 2011-2012

We welcome all who are interested in entering the STC Houston Competition. Review the following sections for competition guidelines and specifics for judging:

What can I enter in the competition?

Entries in the following categories are judged based on purpose, information design, usability, media, and writing:

      • Training Materials with the purpose of training a user or learner on a particular set of skills and knowledge.
      • Informational Materials intended to provide the user with information without a specific call to action.
      • Promotional Materials intended to market or promote a product, company, individual, or event.
      • User Support Materials that provide information needed to support the user in performing specific tasks.

What is the deadline to enter?

Entries, entry forms, and entry fees must be received on or before October 17, 2011 (or bring them to the Oct 18th program meeting!)

Why should I enter?

Aside from the satisfaction of receiving an honor, entering the STC competitions provides you with valuable feedback from your peers. Your evaluation will include details such as:

  • How well and how clearly does the entry meet its purpose?
  • How effective is the information design of the entry?
  • How user-friendly is the entry?
  • How effective and appropriate is the media?
  • How well-written is the content of the entry?

What do I send with my entry?

To submit an entry into the STC Houston Competition, you must do the following:

  • Submit four copies of each entry. (STC Houston retains one copy for our records, and sends three to our STC trading chapter/partner for judging.)
    Note: Entries will not be returned automatically to the submitters. To have your entries returned, provide a postage-paid and pre-addressed package and we will mail one copy of your entry back.
  • Complete the online entry form and submit four printed copies of the form with your entry.
  • Submit your entry on to the international competition if you win an Excellence or Distinguished honor in the STC Houston competition.
  • Attend our STC Houston Winter Banquet to see all award winners and network with your peers.

Who is eligible to enter?

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. Companies entering submissions will be awarded under the company or submitter name. For multiple contributors on an entry, you must pay entry fees for each contributor for individual names to be included on the award.

  • 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 24 months preceding September 1, 2011.
  • 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 document titled “General Information and Competition Rules” on the International Summit Awards page of the STC website.

What awards are given?

STC offers two levels of competition:

  • Local
  • International

In the local competition, three levels of recognition are awarded in each competition category. These awards, in descending order, are:

  • Distinguished Technical Communication
  • Excellence
  • Merit.

Winners of the Distinguished and Excellence awards in each of the four categories may submit to the appropriate international competition.

A separate fee is required for the international competition; this fee must be paid by the entrants. STC Houston does not sponsor entries to the international competition.

What are the deadlines, fees, and where do I submit my entry?

Entries, entry forms, and entry fees must be received by mail or in person on or before October 17, 2011. Payment may be made by check payable to STC Houston or by PayPal from this link on the STC Houston Web site. Note: If you pay through PayPal, include a copy of your PayPal receipt with each entry.

The total cost for submitting an entry is the cumulative total of fees for each contributor to the entry. Fees for each entry are:

  • STC Houston Members $25
  • STC Members $30
  • Non-Members $40
  • Company $75

For example, if there are three contributors for your entry, where the first contributor is an STC Houston member ($25), and the other two contributors are members of a different chapter ($30), then the total fee for your entry is $85.

Fill out your online entry here.

Entries may be sent by mail to

STC Houston
P.O. Box 42060
Houston, TX 77242

Drop-off point 1:
(call first: 713-418-5917)

Stephanie Donovan
NetIQ Corporation
1233 West Loop South, Suite 810
Houston, TX 77027

Drop-off point 2:
(call first: 713-291-3506)

Katrina Pigusch
Schlumberger
1310 Rankin Road
Houston, TX 77073

What do I need to know to judge?

Competition entries are judged by teams of experienced technical communicators from the Lone Star (Dallas) chapter. Judges for the STC Houston competition will judge entries from the Dallas area.

Judges must attend a training session, either in person or via the web.

Judges receive judging materials at the Judges training. The judging packet contains the entries to be judged, judging guidelines, important dates, and information about whom to contact with questions.

Attendance at the Judging Consensus meeting is highly recommended. At that time, you can meet with your judging team and form consensus through discussion. If your team has judged an entry that you believe is Best of Show, you nominate the entry at the consensus meeting. The assembled group at the Judges Consensus meeting selects the Best of Show winner.

If you would like to judge in the competitions, contact the Competitions Manager. If your company submits multiple entries, consider forming a 3-person judging team.

What if I have more questions?

Email us at: competitions@stc-houston.org