UA’s Institutional Marketing team honored for creative efforts

The new decade is off to a winning start for the Department of Institutional Marketing at The University of Akron. The department, which leads institution-level integrated marketing and communications efforts for UA, is the recipient of several new awards.

On March 5, the American Advertising Federation (AAF) of Greater Akron, Inc. honored the University at its the 2010 Akron ADDY® Awards Ceremony. Silver Awards were given to UA’s "Chain Reaction" TV spot featuring President Luis M. Proenza, the Zippy Holiday Card Campaign (print and electronic), and the President's Report to the Community.

AAF-Akron is part of the federation’s fifth district. It represents 11 professional advertising associations and 18 college chapters in Ohio, West Virginia and Kentucky. AAF-Akron’s annual awards ceremony is the first of a three-tiered national competition conducted by the federation to honor creative excellence.

In the recent 25th Annual Educational Advertising Awards competition, five institutional projects were recognized. A Silver Award went to the “Chain Reaction” television spot, and Merit Awards were given to the “Inclusive Excellence” print ad, the “Zippy” electronic holiday card, the 2009-10 Admissions Viewbook and the President's Report to the Community.

Institutional Marketing received three nods in the Seventh Annual Service Industry Advertising Awards (SIAA) competition. Gold Awards were presented to the “Chain Reaction” TV spot and the 2009-10 Admissions Viewbook. The President’s Report to the Community earned a Bronze Award.

A national panel of judges reviewed more than 1,400 entries for the SIAA competition for “execution, creativity, quality, consumer appeal and overall break-through advertising content” before announcing the winners on Feb. 1.

UA’s uniquely shaped holiday card was awarded a Ben Franklin “Benny” gold ranking by the Northeast Ohio Craftsmen Club for die cutting.

And, Institutional Marketing only recently learned that it had garnered its first-ever international honor — a gold ranking for the 2008 President’s Report to the Community. Judges in the International Association of Printing House Craftsmen and the Graphic Professionals Resource Network’s worldwide competition reviewed a large volume of entries from 16 countries before announcing the winners.

“We are pleased and gratified that such notable organizations have recognized our work as outstanding,” says Ron Ramos, creative director at UA. “All of our work revolves around strategic and creative communications that demonstrates how UA provides value to our varied constituents. We have an excellent creative team and we’re happy to accept these awards that acknowledge the important work that we do in building awareness of UA.”

“It's important as UA grows in prominence that our creative work positions UA among the most creative and innovative organizations,” adds Barbara O’Malley, the University’s associate vice president for communications and chief communications officer. “The awards are an indicator of the effectiveness of our work in building awareness of UA regionally, nationally and internationally.” 

Media contact: Laura M. Massie, 330-972-6476 or massie1@uakron.edu