The Webb County Heritage Foundation (WCHF) has been recognized by the Texas Association of Museums (TAM) at its annual conference, receiving two honors in the prestigious Mitchell A. Wilder Publication Design Award Competition, which celebrates excellence in museum communications and design.
TAM is a statewide organization dedicated to advancing the museum field in Texas through professional development, resources, and advocacy, while promoting the highest standards and best practices across cultural institutions.
WCHF received both a Gold Award and a Bronze Award, recognizing the organization’s commitment to producing thoughtful, high-quality materials that reflect its mission and connect with the community. The Gold Award was presented for the Junior Curator Journal brochure, an engaging educational resource designed to enhance the museum experience for younger audiences, while the Bronze Awardwas recognition for the 2025 newsletter, The Year We Shared, which highlights the events, programs, and accomplishments of the WCHF in 2025.
Named in honor of Mitchell A. Wilder, founding director of the Amon Carter Museum, the competition promotes the highest standards of graphic design and media production across museums of all sizes. From newsletters and brochures to digital and print materials, these awards recognize communications that reflect a museum’s identity and public presence.
“To be recognized at a statewide level, and to bring home two awards in a competition that includes some of the largest museums in Texas, means a lot to us. We’re a small team, but we’re really intentional about what we create. We care deeply about how we tell our stories, and this feels like a reminder that our work and our community belong in those spaces, too,” said Andrea Ordoñez, Director of Operations of the WCHF.
Previous recipients of this award include the San Antonio Museum of Art, the Witte Museum, and the Dallas Museum of Art. This year, the Webb County Heritage Foundation and the Republic of the Rio Grande Museum join that list, marking a milestone moment for the organization and for Laredo’s presence on the statewide stage.
The Webb County Heritage Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving, sharing, and celebrating the history, culture, and stories of Webb County. Through its two museums, the Republic of the Rio Grande Museum and the Villa Antigua Border Heritage Museum, as well as educational programs, community events, and publications, WCHF works to make local history accessible, engaging, and meaningful for all. For more information about the Webb County Heritage Foundation and its programs, visit webbheritage.org or find them on social media @webbheritage
