The West Virginia University Division of University Relations has won four platinum awards and one gold award from MarCom, an international competition that recognizes outstanding creative achievement by marketing and communication professionals.

Also, WVU’s National Alternative Fuels Training Consortium received three platinum and one gold and the P.I. Reed School of Journalism received a platinum and two golds.

MarCom receives about 6,000 entries per year from corporate marketing and communication departments, advertising agencies, PR firms, design shops, production companies and freelancers all over the world.

“These awards to our UR staff, and other creative professionals at WVU, is well deserved recognition by their peers of the quality of work that is produced all across campus – whether in an academic or service setting,” said Sharon Martin, vice president for University Relations. “Congratulations to all who led and worked on the various projects.”

MarCom awarded WVU University Relations platinum awards for four projects:

• WVU Magazine – Innovation (Magazine/Educational Institution): The WVU Magazine is read across the nation and around the world. The Spring 2013 edition focused on innovation at the University. It takes an intimate look at the innovators at the University who are blazing unmarked paths to discovery. They are faculty members, students, staff members and alumni who have one thing in common: at some point in their lives, each of these people found something that sparked their creativity.
• WVU Video Site (Web Video/Marketing): Stories at WVU are told across a variety of platforms: text, graphics, photography, videos and more. The video site compiles all of the great people and programs we feature into one accessible area for students, faculty, alumni and friends of the University to view.
• Without Challenge There Can Be No Mountaineers (Video/Film/Educational Institution) Created for WVU’s 2012 national TV spot, the video features Mountaineer Mascot John Kimble thriving on challenge to produce character, discovery and knowledge. In 30 seconds, WVU showcased our Mountaineer spirit for our inaugural season in the Big 12 Conference.
• A Storybook Holiday (Digital Video Creation/Animation): Each year, the University produces a holiday greeting for friends of the University. The Storybook Holiday features a winter wonderland scene that focuses on the joy of giving and the magic of the season.

The division also received a gold award for:
• WVU Web Site (Website/Educational Institution): The WVU web site is the main landing page for all University-related information. It features links to all University programs, as well as a calendar of events, news and information for prospective students, faculty, staff, researchers and visitors.

University Relations helps to connect West Virginia University – its people, programs, messages, stories, challenges, triumphs and its continuing narrative of progress – to the world. University Relations consists of almost 70 media and marketing professionals who work in Web, Design, News, Video, Trademark Licensing and the Visitors Center.

NAFTC won platinum for its National AFV Day Odyssey Executive Summary, Advanced Electric Drive Vehicle Education Program and the National Alternative Fuel Vehicle Day Odyssey, and one gold for its First Responder Quick Reference Guide.

“We are extremely honored to have won four different MarCom Awards in the 2013 competition,” said Judy Moore, NAFTC assistant director – communications and outreach. “The NAFTC is very fortunate to have an incredibly talented and hardworking team who strive to make every project the very best it can be!”

P.I. Reed received a platinum award for its WVU News Twitter Site in the Mobile & Web-Based Technology/Twitter Site category. It also received two gold awards for the WVU News Website and the WVU News College Campus Special Edition Newscast.

-WVU-

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CONTACT: University Relations/News
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