SFA wins six advertising awards at national competition
March 5, 2013
The Stephen F. Austin State University Office of Public Affairs and Office of Admissions were recognized during the 28th Annual Educational Advertising Awards sponsored by Higher Education Marketing Report for their admissions and recruiting publications, imprint materials, and logo design. Pictured are Publications Specialist Robin Johnson (left) and Marketing Communications Specialist Donna Parish (right), both of the Office of Public Affairs, and Media Coordinator Bill Cox of the Office of Admissions.
The Educational Advertising Awards is the largest educational advertising awards competition in the country. This year, approximately 3,000 entries were received from more than 1,000 colleges, universities and secondary schools from all 50 states and several foreign countries.
SFA took home a Gold Award for its search piece titled "The Lumberjack Experience." The university's total recruitment package received a Silver Award, and imprinted materials earned a Bronze Award. The university also won three Merit Awards: publication external and video view book, both for "The Lumberjack Experience," and logo/letterhead for the Veterans Resource Center logo.
Representatives from SFA's public affairs and admissions offices also were interviewed by the publication for an upcoming feature story showcasing the university's recruitment materials.
"This was our first time to enter this competition," said Shirley Luna, executive director of public affairs and marketing at SFA. "The public affairs and admissions staff creates the concepts, writes the texts, and produces the layout work - all in house. To receive six awards at the national level our first time out is exceptional."
Monique Cossich, SFA's executive director of enrollment management, agrees.
"At the end of the day, it comes down to whether the project accomplished our goals, which, in this case, was attracting prospective students. We survey new students on the quality and quantity of materials they received from us during their college search. This information helps our writers and designers stay in tune with this population. The data and feedback we have received validates we are on the right track."
The national panel of judges for the Educational Advertising Awards consisted of higher education marketers, advertising creative directors, marketing and advertising professionals, and the editorial board of Higher Education Marketing Report.
Read by approximately 2,000 higher education marketing professionals, Higher Education Marketing Report has been the nation's leading marketing publication for higher education marketing professionals for 28 years.