The University of Hawaiʻi Community Colleges (UHCC) systemwide marketing team has received national recognition for its work on the 50th Anniversary UHCC Day at the Capitol event by winning the prestigious Gold Paragon in the government and community relations category given by the National Council for Marketing and Public Relations (NCMPR), as well as being selected as presenters of a roundtable session at the NCMPR conference in Portland, Oregon.
“We are extremely proud of the creative work of our marketing and communications team, and very honored by this award,” said John Morton, UH vice president for community colleges. “This award validates the excellent collaborative nature in which we are able to effectively market our community colleges across the state.”
- Related links: 50 years of accessible, affordable higher education, UH News story, March 18, 2014
Accepting the Gold Paragon award on behalf of the UHCC marketing team at the annual conference on March 24, 2015, was Susan Lee, UHCC director of marketing and communications. The judges’ comments included: “The ‘Open Door’ tagline is creative, and the overall concept captures our attention. Terrific use of the resources already at hand, including student and faculty talent. This is an all-around winning campaign.”
The marketing and communications team led by committee chair Lee, includes campus representatives:
- Bonnie Beatson, marketing and communications director, Windward CC
- Nicole Beattie, marketing and community relations director, UH Maui College
- Kathleen Cabral, marketing and communications director, Leeward CC
- Gary Ellwood, enrollment and marketing specialist, Kaua'i CC
- Billie Takaki Lueder, executive assistant to the chancellor and marketing director, Honolulu CC
- Thatcher Moats, external affairs/relations coordinator, Hawaiʻi CC
- Louise Yamamoto, community relations director, Kapiʻolani CC
- Paul Sakamoto, UHCC web developer
UH Director of Government Relations Stephanie Kim provided invaluable coordination, guidance and support for UHCC Day at the Capitol.
In addition, Beatson, Cabral and Takaki Lueder presented a roundtable session at the national conference entitled, Traditional PR Tactics Transformed into PR Magic, with support from UHCC marketing team. They shared the planning and implementation process of executing the UHCC Day at the Capitol, which encompassed an opening ceremony staged with eight life-size doors symbolically representing the open-door access of the community colleges, more than 50 displays and exhibits represented by all seven campuses and their partners and a fashion show extravaganza. The event culminated with certificate presentations in both chambers of the Senate and House of Representatives.
Photos from UHCC Day at the Capitol
View the full album on the UH Community Colllege’s Flickr site.
More on the Paragon Awards
NCMPR’s prestigious Paragon Awards recognize outstanding achievement and excellence in communications exclusively at two-year colleges with winners receiving gold, silver or bronze designations. This year’s competition drew more than 1,700 entries.
Since 1998, the UHCC marketing team has won eight National Paragon Awards for its TV advertising, web design and government/community relations projects.
