10/28/20
Gadsden State’s Public Relations and Marketing Department earns regional awards
Gadsden, Ala. – The Public Relations and Marketing Department at Gadsden State Community College earned four awards for exemplary work from the National Council of Marketing and Public Relations.
“We are very proud to be recognized by a distinct group of our peers for the work we have done to spread the message about Gadsden State,” said Jackie Brehm Edmondson, director of the PR and Marketing Department. “We are humbled and honored.”
The NCMPR Medallion Awards were presented virtually this year instead of at the annual regional conference due to COVID-19 concerns. Over 300 entries were considered by a combination of NCMPR peers from two-year colleges and industry experts in marketing, public relations and communications. Each category recognized gold, silver and bronze medallion winners.
A gold medallion was earned for the redesign of the Gadsden State website (gadsdenstate.edu). It is the second recognition earned for the redesign. In January, the Gadsden State website earned a gold medal at the Education Digital Marketing Awards sponsored by the Higher Education Marketing Report. Gadsden State was one of only two community colleges in the country to earn the highest level of recognition from HEMR.
“The judges noted that the design of the website is modern and clean,” Virginia Moreland, director of NCMPR District 2, said during the virtual awards program. “It seemed easy to navigate to find information students are looking for. Nice job!”
A second gold medallion was earned for the 2019 Alumni Yearbook in the Electronic Newsletter Category. The yearbook is created by the PR & Marketing Department for members of the Gadsden State Alumni Association. It focuses on the association’s contributions as well as the accomplishments of its members, it and can be viewed at www.gadsdenstate.com/alumni/alumni-association.cms
“The Alumni Yearbook is wonderfully designed and easy to navigate,” Moreland said. “The photos are really colorful and engaging. Wonderful job!”
A silver medallion was received for the 2019 President’s Report in the E-Catalog, Schedule, Viewbook and Annual Report Category. The report can be viewed at www.gadsdenstate.edu/presidentsreport. It is the third straight year the electronic report has been recognized in the Top 3 during the NCMPR Medallion Awards.
Another silver medallion was earned in the Social Media and Online Marketing Campaign Category. Judges reviewed Gadsden State’s summer registration campaign, which focused on pre-roll advertisements, commercials on over-the-top screens, geofencing efforts, email blasts, digital advertisements, social media campaign and website.
The virtual awards program recognized top PR and marketing projects in District 2, which includes two-year institutions in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands and The Bahamas. Gadsden State was one of only three Alabama community colleges to receive an award. Southern Union Community College received a bronze and two gold medallions, and Wallace State Community College earned two silver and four bronze medallions.
Working with Edmondson in the Gadsden State PR & Marketing Department are Kathy Brown, administrative assistant; Brandy Hyatt, public relations specialist; Jessica Brown, resource development officer, and Laura Catoe, website and social media specialist.