Wilbur Awards
Over 70 Years of Recognizing Excellence in the Communication of Religious Issues, Values, and Themes in Public Media
Since 1949, the Wilbur Awards have been presented annually to recognize excellence in the communication of religious issues, values, and themes in public secular media. Through the awards, the Religion Communicators Council (RCC) recognizes the work of individuals, production companies and agencies as they communicate about religious issues, values and themes with professionalism, fairness, respect and honesty. Past winners include Morgan Freeman, Oprah Winfrey, Jane Pauley, Mister Rogers, CBS Sunday Morning, ABC’s 20/20, Meet the Press, Vanity Fair, Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, and the New York Times.
The Wilbur Award honors Marvin C. Wilbur, a pioneer in the field of religious public relations. Each Wilbur stained glass trophy is individually hand-crafted. An eloquent thank you for excellent work!
Submission Deadline:
Monday, January 31, 2022
2022 Wilbur Awards
Any person or agency may submit entries for the 2022 Wilbur Awards. Entries are eligible if released or distributed through a non-religious medium of general circulation during the 2021 calendar year. The work must be focused on religious issues, positive values, and uplifting themes.
The competition is judged by religion media professionals from across the United States in a jury process. The basic criteria of content, creativity, execution and results, apply in the evaluation of each entry. The ultimate criterion is excellence in the communication of religious values, the hallmark of RCC and the Wilbur Awards.
Entry Deadline: January 31, 2022
Winners will be notified by March 31, 2022.
Awards will be presented virtually during the RCC National Convention, in the spring of 2022.
Questions about the Wilburs? Contact us!
Wilbur Awards Contact Form
Previous Winners
2020-present
Recognizing excellence in the communication of religious issues, values, and themes in secular media.
2021
2021 Wilbur Awards Program & Winners
2020
2012-2019
Recognizing excellence in the communication of religious issues, values, and themes in secular media.
2019
2019 Wilbur Awards Program and Winners
2019 Wilbur Award Acceptance Videos
2019 Wilbur Awards Ceremony Photos
2018
2018 Wilbur Awards Program and Winners
2018 Wilbur Award Acceptance Videos
2018 Wilbur Awards Ceremony Photos
2017
2017 Wilbur Awards Program and Winners
2017 Wilbur Awards Ceremony Photos
2016
2016 Wilbur Awards Program and Winners
2016 Wilbur Award Acceptance Videos
2016 Wilbur Awards Ceremony Photos
2015
2015 Wilbur Awards Program and Winners
2015 Wilbur Award Acceptance Videos
2015 Wilbur Awards Ceremony Photos
2014
2014 Wilbur Awards Program and Winners
2014 Wilbur Award Acceptance Videos
2014 Wilbur Awards Ceremony Photos
2013
2013 Wilbur Awards Program and Winners
2013 Wilbur Award Ceremony Photos
2012
2003-2011
Recognizing excellence in the communication of religious issues, values, and themes in secular media.
2011
2011 Wilbur Award Acceptance Videos
2011 Wilbur Award Ceremony Photos
2010
2010 Wilbur Awards Ceremony Photos
2009
2009 Wilbur Awards Ceremony Photos
2008
2007
2006
2005
2004
2003
1992-2002
Recognizing excellence in the communication of religious issues, values, and themes in secular media.
2002
2001
2000
1999
1998
1997
1996
1995
1994
1992
Shirley Struchen and Andy Rawls Provide Leadership for the Wilbur Awards Program
Shirley Struchen, RCC Executive Director since 2001, is coordinator of the 2020 Wilbur Awards.
Dr. Andrew “Andy” B. Rawls, former director of media services at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, is producer of the 2020 Wilbur Awards event for the 30th year. He received a “Special Wilbur” in 2012 as Producer Extraordinaire for his many years of creatively producing the RCC Wilbur Program.
Want to check out some of the previous Wilbur Awards presentations again? Go to the RCC YouTube Channel to see the award presentations.
Many thanks to Andy Rawls, Wilbur Awards producer, for preparing all the video clips highlighting the introduction to each award and excerpts from the acceptance remarks!