MSU communicators win 34 awards in statewide competition

Contact: Phil Hearn

Mississippi State communication staffs captured half of the awards handed out in the senior division of the College Public Relations Association of Mississippi for creative work performed during 2003.

University employees collected 34 of 68 awards presented recently to public and private colleges and universities during the statewide organization's annual meeting in Natchez. The state's community and junior colleges compete in a separate division.

The Mississippi State honors include a dozen to the Office of Agricultural Communications, 10 each to the Office of University Relations and the MSU-Meridian campus, and two to the University Television Center.

The university also received both of the two grand prizes in the senior competition. One went to University Relations publications staff members for "MSU Calendar 2004"; the other, to Agricultural Communications staffer David Lack for a television program, "Mississippi: We're Growing Places."

MSU swept the news-writing category, with University Relations staffers winning first- and second-place awards, and an Agricultural Communications writer taking third place. In addition to the one grand prize, University Relations publications, Web page and photography staff counted four first-place finishes among six other awards. University Relations also won first place in the Radio Programs category.

In addition to Lack's grand prize, members of the Agricultural Communications staff earned three first-place awards across a variety of categories; Linda Butler of the Meridian campus had two top finishes among her 10 awards; and the TV Center won first-place awards for television programs and TV spots.

Individual MSU award winners by category include:

News Stories

First place, Maridith Geuder, "Rural, poor at disadvantage in grocery stores"; second place, Phil Hearn, "MSU generating new generation of computer security experts"; and third, Bonnie Coblentz, "Summer program sends students to med school."

Institutional Magazine

Second place, "MAFES Research Highlights," Bob Ratliff, Robyn Hearn, Beth Dishongh, Annette Woods, Jim Lytle, Marco Nicovich, Tom Thompson, Linda Breazeale, Bonnie Coblentz, Laura Whelan, and Keryn Page; and third place, "Mississippi State Alumnus Magazine," Becky Smith, Allen Snow, Kay Jones, Phil Hearn, Maridith Geuder, Joe Farris, Erin Norwood, Sammy McDavid, Russ Houston, and Fred Faulk.

Newsletter

First place, "Pegasus Press," Linda Brezeale, Keryn Page, Laura Whelan, Bonnie Coblentz, Tom Thompson, Greg Word, and Nancy Williams.

Tabloid Publication

Third place, Linda Butler and the Meridian Star, "You Don't Have One Good Reason to Go to College. . .You Have Many."

Annual Report

First place, "School of Accountancy Annual Report," Erin Norwood, Fred Faulk and Russ Houston.

Brochure

Third place, "Diversity Matters," Erin Norwood, Fred Faulk and Russ Houston.

Special Publications

Grand prize, "MSU Calendar 2004," Becky Smith, Jon Morris, Fred Faulk, Russ Houston; and first place, "Division Report: Joining Tradition and Technology," Bob Ratliff, Wanda Thorne, Beth Dishong, Jim Lytle, Marco Nicovich, and Tom Thompson.

Advertisements

Second place, Linda Butler, "Find Your Place"; and third place, Linda Butler, "One Good Reason."

Single Piece of Artwork

Second place, Erin Norwood, "Lyceum Series Poster."

Television News Story

First Place, Leighton Spann, "Dairy Tunnel Ventilation Research"; and second place, Brian Utley, "Dove Hunting Field Management."

Television Spots

First place, "MSU Institutional Promo 2003: Famous Alumni 2003," Marc Rolph, Ralph Olivieri and Ben Cook; and second place, "Putting Knowledge to Work," David Lack.

Radio Spots

First Place, Linda Butler, "No Small Feat"; second place, Linda Butler, "The People's University"; and third place, Linda Butler, "One Good Reason."

Television Programs

Grand prize, David Lack, "Mississippi: We're Growing Places;" first place, "Honoring Our Heritage," Marc Rolph, Ralph Olivieri and Ben Cook; and second place, "Biloxi Shrimp Tour," Brian Utley and David Lack.

Radio Programs

First place, "Organ Donation," Maridith Geuder and Krista Vowell; second place, Brian Utley, "Family Farm Foods"; and third place, Leighton Spann, "Red Deer Feature."

Web Pages

First place, www.msstate.edu, Bennet George, Erin Norwood, Fred Faulk, and Russ Houston; and third place, "Delta Soy," Phillip Smith, Cindy Callahan, Tom Knecht, and Ned Browning.

Public Relations Campaigns

First place, "Mississippi State Recruiting Campaign," Becky Smith, Erin Norwood, Fred Faulk, and Russ Houston; and second place, "Public Relations Campaign," Linda Butler and WTOK-TV.

Exhibits

First place, Linda Butler, "Technology and Training"; and third place, Linda Butler, "All Dawgs Go to Heaven."

Creative Partners

Second place, Linda Butler, "Partners in Education."