UW Communications and Marketing Specialists Receive State Association Awards

University of Wyoming Institutional Communications and Marketing specialists, and communications team members on campus received 10 awards during the annual Wyoming Press Association (WPA) Associates group contest.

Winners were announced at the WPA’s annual winter meeting last weekend in Cheyenne. The convention attracts Wyoming’s newspaper professionals and the WPA’s Associate members -- many of whom are public relations professionals -- for workshops, seminars and speakers.

The WPA convention culminated with the awards program where the top newspapers in three divisions were announced: The Jackson Hole News and Guide in Division A; The Lovell Chronicle in the B Division; and the C Division winner was The Greybull Standard. Individual award winners also were announced in several categories.

The WPA Associates contest drew entries from communications professionals from around the state. UW personnel competed against media representatives such as those from various Wyoming state government departments and area public relations firms.

WPA Associates members, including those from UW, attended job-related workshops during the convention. Milton Ontiveroz, a UW Institutional Communications specialist, is the Associates group’s chair and an ex-officio member of the WPA Board of Directors, a position he has held the past five years.

In the Associates contest, the UW Institutional Communications team fared well in the news writing categories, winning eight of a possible 11 awards. Chad Baldwin, UW associate vice president for communications and marketing, won a first place writing award; Ontiveroz, received first, second and third place writing awards; and Ron Podell, a communications specialist, writing awards included a first and second place.

UW Institutional Marketing specialists Michaela Jones, who is assigned to the College of Arts and Sciences, received a first place news writing award, and Mark Belcher, assigned to the College of Health Sciences, won a third place writing award.

Jeremy Cain, a UW Extension graphic designer won, an honorable mention, and the Extension staff received a second place award.

The Wyoming Press Association awarded a “Best of WPA Associates” given to the Associates member winning the most contest awards across all categories. The Wyoming Game and Fish Department won the first place traveling trophy and plaque, earning 12 individual awards. Overall, UW public relations specialists were second, receiving 10 individual honors.

“UW’s storytellers are working very hard to keep the public informed about the great work happening at the university,” Baldwin says. “I am delighted to see our excellence being recognized by our peers.”

Listed are the UW staff members with their individual awards, contest categories in which they won, titles of their entries and the judges’ comments for each entry:

UW Institutional Communications

Award Baldwin received:

-- First place, Three Releases on the Same Topic highlighted UW’s research on environmental issues in Wyoming and the West. The releases were “UW Researchers Examine Yellowstone Hydrothermal System in Unprecedented Detail”; “UW-Led Research: Yellowstone Lake Ice Cover Unchanged Despite Warming Climate”; and “Wild Horse Overabundance Harms Sage Grouse, UW Researchers Find.” Judge’s comment: “Impressive detail on these three. What ties them together is the coverage centering around the environment/climate. Very well done.”

Awards Ontiveroz received:

-- First place, One News Release highlighted a Dubois grandfather who earned a master’s degree 35 years after attending UW. The release was “Dubois Weed and Pest Assistant Supervisor Earns UW Master’s Degree at Age 63.” Judge’s comment: “Great angle, great job with the source and focus of the story and finish with purpose of the document.”

-- Second place, Three Features on the Same Topic highlighted UW student success stories. The releases were “UW’s Dillivan Receives Prestigious Truman Scholarship”; “UW’s Riley Coburn Selected for International Exchange Program in Germany”; and “Sheridan County Weed and Pest District Supervisor Earns Higher Degree From UW.” Judge’s comment: “Good work highlighting the students.”

-- Third place, Three Releases on the Same Topic focused on the UW rodeo teams’ success at the College National Finals Rodeo last summer. The releases were “UW’s Mattson and Team Roping Partner Record Top Time of Entire CNFR”; “UW’s Day Ties for First in Goat Tying and Gallagher Second in CNFR Steer Wrestling”; and “UW Rodeo Teams Wrap Up College National Finals Run.” Judge’s comment: “It can be difficult to write about rodeo to those who don’t understand the sport. Yet, the author does well in reporting on the UW rodeo teams, explaining how it works and getting engaging quotes from student athletes.”

Awards Podell received:

-- First place, Three Features On The Same Topic that featured UW wildlife research. The three releases were “UW Researchers Contribute to UN’s Atlas of Ungulate Migration”; “UW Researchers Study the Relationship Between Insects and Wind Turbines”; and “Two UW Researchers Receive SERDP Grant to Study Impacts on Hawaii’s Ecosystem.” Judge’s comments: “The author does a great job of taking complex, high level concepts and helps communicate them to the readers. He also does a great job of highlighting how the University Wyoming is playing a role in both national and international science.”

-- Second place, One News Feature that focused on a UW summer science academy for young students in Wyoming and neighboring states. The release was “Students Build Space Heat Shields at UW’s Teton STEM Academy.” Judge’s comment: “Great lede. The writer did a good job of matching tone to subject matter. The somewhat lighter tone is well suited to high school students.”

UW Institutional Marketing

Award Belcher received:

-- Third place, One News Release focused on graduating UW Medical Education Program students’ experience during the 2020 COVID pandemic. The release was titled “UW’s New WWAMI Graduates Recall Medical School During Pandemic.” Judge’s comment: “Multiple sources and a good lede.”

Award Jones received:

-- First place, One Feature focused on a UW professor’s discovery that the diet of early hunter-gatherers was more plant-based than meat-based. The release was “UW Professor’s Research Challenges Hunter-Gatherer Narrative.” The judge’s comment: “Engaging and well-written lede piqued my interest and had me wanting to learn more. The writer also does a great job of covering the absolute essentials covered in the first few graphs. Quotes are used effectively and thoughtfully. Overall, writer’s style is pleasant to read.”

UW Extension

Award Cain received:

-- Honorable mention, Page Layout and Design, “UW Alum & Faculty Lead U.S. Army Training in Scotland.” Judge’s comment: “This was a challenging category with many entries worthy of honorable mention. What sets this entry apart is the compelling storytelling conveyed through its photos.”

Award UW’s Extension staff received:

-- Second place, Publication, “Reflections Magazine 2024.” Judge’s comment: “Fabulous choice and use of photos. Color selection overall page designs and article diversity combined for a great publication.”