Mississippi College Public Relations Office Wins 28 Awards

Mississippi College's public relations staff recently received 28 awards from four professional organizations for its work including the “Beacon,” MC's alumni magazine.

In late May, the College Public Relations Association of Mississippi awarded its grand prize for print to the “Beacon” for its spring 2009 and winter 2010 issues plus a first-place as an institutional magazine. It was among six CPRAM awards for Mississippi College. The group promotes excellence in public relations by educational institutions in the Magnolia State. Another first-place went for the 2009 MC Homecoming brochure.

In February at its annual meeting in Tampa, the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education's District III organization handed the “Beacon” its award of excellence for its fall 2008 and spring 2009 issues. CASE III seeks to enhance the effectiveness of alumni relations, fund-raising, communications, marketing and other advancement professionals at institutions around the South. CASE III colleges and universities are located in Alabama, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, Georgia, Kentucky, Tennessee, Florida and Mississippi.

Other honors coming to MC's public relations office this year were a total of 13 ADDY Awards sponsored by the Jackson Advertising Federation. The annual ADDY Awards salute Central Mississippi's creative work in advertising and marketing. Gold awards went to MC for invitations to the Provine Chapel 150th anniversary celebration and feature stories in the “Beacon” on Major League Baseball umpire Lance Barksdale and Arthur Blessitt, who's carried a 45-pound wooden cross to scores of nations.

And there were eight awards for Mississippi College from the Baptist Communicators Association at its annual meeting in Chicago in April. A grand prize and first-place awards went to the university's “Growing the Vision” website that offers details of MC's $80 million fund drive for scholarships, academic programs and campus building projects.

“Mississippi College's public relations team worked hard again this year and was blessed with a series of awards reflecting that effort and devotion to MC,” said Tracey Harrison, public relations director at the Christian university based in Clinton. “Whether the honors came for the Beacon, creative developments on MC's website, school postcards or brochures, our public relations team gives the glory to God.”

Harrison, public relations associate Tracy May, university news coordinator Andy Kanengiser and MC webmaster Justin Garcia are at the heart of the university's PR team. “Beacon” contributing editor Marlo Kirkpatrick, designer Alecia Porch and photographer Robby Followell also play major roles in the magazine's success. Harrison, the magazine's editor, and Followell are both Mississippi College graduates.