Northwest PR staff wins Grand Award for Print Media by Nancy Patterson 5/23/2007
Northwest Mississippi Community College’s Public Relations staff returned from the College Public Relations Association of Mississippi (CPRAM) Conference in Vicksburg May 21-22 with the Grand Award for Print Media in the Junior College Division. The winning entry was for the college’s alumni magazine, Northwest Now. “This magazine also won a first-place in the institutional magazine category,” said Nancy Patterson (Senatobia), director of Public Relations. “Our staff takes great pride in the publications that we produce for Northwest. Our Assistant Director Julie Bauer gives this piece its beautiful design.” Magazine contributors include Patterson, who serves as its editor; Foundation director and manager of alumni affairs, Sybil Canon and Dolores Wooten; and PR writers LaJuan Tallo and Brett Brown (all of Senatobia). Northwest also collected a first-place award in the Public Relations Campaign category. As part of the college’s process for reaccreditation with the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, a marketing committee was formed to promote, both in-house and to the community, the college’s Quality Enhancement Project—“Moving Mathematical Mountains”—which focused on improving math skills and reducing math anxiety. Contributing to that campaign were college personnel Patterson, Bauer, Matthew Domas, Kitt Albritton, Lawayne House, Dan Smith, Carolyn Warren and former Vice President for Educational Affairs Keith Godbold. Patterson and Bauer (Southaven) were first-place winners for the summer 2007 advertising campaign, “Northwest, Your Window of Opportunity.” These ads ran in newspapers throughout the college’s 11-county district. Student photographer Jeff Watson of Corinth was a first-place winner in the Color Photograph category for his photo, “Fall Colors.” While a freshman at Northwest, Watson served as staff photographer for the newspaper, yearbook and the Public Relations Department. A second-place award went to Patterson and Pam Starling, with the University of Mississippi Department of Outreach, for the partnership piece, the DeSoto Center tabloid. This newsprint publication features articles and information about DeSoto Center and is mailed to all households in DeSoto County. Bauer and Patterson were second-place winners for the college’s viewbook, also entitled, “Your Window of Opportunity.” Bauer served as graphic designer and project manager for the four-color publication which is used by the college’s Recruiting Office. Patterson provided copy. Bauer and Brett Brown, assistant for sports information, earned a third-place award for production of the college’s 2006-07 All Sports programs, pocket schedules and posters in the Special Publications category. They also received a third-place for the “Next Level Football Showcase” brochure. “I’m so proud of our public relations staff “said vice president for Student Affairs Dan Smith. “The Grand Award is a special honor, and it’s the first we have taken home since 1997. I am especially proud of Jeff Watson, who as a freshman photographer was competing with professional photographers from all over the state…..he’s done a great job for us this year.” Representing Northwest at the conference were Patterson, Bauer and Tallo. Patterson serves on the CPRAM Board of Directors. (l to r) Director of Sports Information and PR Writer Brett Brown and PR Writer LaJuan Tallo (Photos provided)		(l to r) Nancy Patterson, Director of Public Relations and Assistant Director Julie Bauer (Photos provided)