By Ryan Clark
CHS Communications Director

The MarCom Awards, an international creative competition for marketing and communication professionals, has announced early deadline winners in their 2023 contest, and the College of Health Sciences’ Creative Services department won five awards, including two prestigious Platinum honors.

Among the winners were: the department’s magazine, Gateway; its podcast; a feature story about a woman learning to walk again with the aid of a CHS professor; an Athletic Training marketing campaign; and coverage of the one-year anniversary of the eastern Kentucky floods.

The MarCom Awards is an international creative competition that recognizes outstanding achievement by marketing and communication professionals. Entries come from corporate marketing and communication departments, advertising agencies, public relations firms, design shops, production companies and freelancers.

They are administered and judged by the Association of Marketing and Communication Professionals. There were more than 6,500 entries from the United States, Canada and 43 other countries.  

MarCom’s Platinum Award is presented to those entries judged to be among the most outstanding entries in the competition. Platinum Winners are recognized for their excellence in terms of quality, creativity and resourcefulness. About 17 percent of entries won this award.

The Gold Award is presented to those entries judged to exceed the high standards of the industry norm. Approximately 20 percent were Gold Winners. Honorable Mention certificates are granted to those entries that meet the expectations of the judges. Approximately 12 percent were Honorable Mention winners.

“I’m really grateful to be part of a team that really cares about the work we put out, and I’ve always been really proud of what we’ve been able to accomplish,” said Will Hieronymus, Creative Director for the College. “It feels great to be recognized by our industry peers, and it makes me feel really good about what we are able to bring to the College.”

CHS won Platinum Awards for the magazine, as well as for feature story, Gold Awards for marketing campaign and web content, and honorable mention for the podcast.

Two students also helped the staff with these accolades. Kiersten White, who is in the master’s program for Athletic Training, contributed to the College’s social media feeds for the AT campaign, while Myles Logsdon, a Media Arts & Studies major, edited video for the flood series.

“Congratulations to our staff for their outstanding work and this much-deserved recognition,” said Scott Lephart, Dean of the College. “While this reflects their hard work and dedication to marketing and telling our story, it also shows just how many great things we’re able to communicate here in the College of Health Sciences. It truly is a special place to be.”

AWARD WINNERS:

Publications/Magazine
Gateway Magazine — PLATINUM
(Ryan Clark, editor; Andi Dunn, designer; Scott M. Lephart, PhD, Dean)

Feature Article
Tears of Strength — PLATINUM
(Ryan Clark and Allison Perry, writers)

Marketing/Promotion Campaign
Athletic Training “Path of Excellence” NATA 2023 Campaign — GOLD
(Will Hieronymus, creative director; Sam Reynolds, design manager; Ryan Clark, writer; Kiersten White, social media contributor; Meredith Houlihan, executive assistant to the Dean; Phillip Gribble, PhD, ATC, FNATA and department chair; Johanna Hoch, PhD, ATC and program director) 

Web Content
The CERH Family: After the Flood — GOLD
(Will Hieronymus, video production; Ryan Clark, writer and interviewer; Myles Logsdon, video editing)

Podcast/Medical
Episode 1, The Way Podcast, APRIL BALLENTINE: “If you fall, you get back up.” — HONORABLE MENTION
(Ryan Clark and Uriah Carter, hosts; Sam Reynolds, editor/producer)