Contributed article
THATCHER — Eastern Arizona College received two national Paragon Awards for excellence in marketing and communications during the National Council for Marketing & Public Relations (NCMPR) conference held in Washington, D.C.
EA earned a Paragon Silver Award for its poster series promoting the fifth annual Native American Festival, which served as the centerpiece of the event’s outreach efforts throughout the Gila Valley and surrounding communities. The posters featured photography of performers paired with design elements inspired by Native American traditions, creating a visually engaging campaign that celebrated the festival’s cultural significance while clearly communicating event details.
The College also received a Paragon Bronze Award for “Stories Still Unfolding,” a video series supporting EA’s 55-plus campaign, which encourages Arizona residents age 55 and older to enroll in free personal-interest courses. Produced entirely in-house, the series featured student interviews from a variety of classes and used personal storytelling to highlight the value of lifelong learning. The campaign included 20 videos incorporated into the College’s website and digital advertising strategy and contributed to a 10-percent increase in participation among 55-plus students.
The EA Marketing and Public Relations Department develops advertising, branding, and outreach campaigns designed to increase awareness and support enrollment growth. During the past year, the department’s marketing efforts generated more than 283,000 new users to the College website, a 29-percent increase from the previous year. Overall, the College website recorded more than 2.2 million page views during the same period.
NCMPR’s Paragon Awards recognize outstanding achievement in communications, marketing, and public relations at community and technical colleges. The competition is the only national awards program dedicated exclusively to marketing and public relations professionals at two-year institutions.
This year’s competition included 1,585 entries from 216 colleges across the country, with only 98 awards presented.
“To be recognized on a national stage among the top community colleges in the nation is a tremendous honor,” said Keith Alexander, EAC chief government relations officer. “These awards reflect the creativity, innovation, and strategic thinking our team brings to telling the Eastern Arizona College story and connecting with the communities we serve.”
– Contributed Photo/Eastern Arizona College
