RIT recognized at 2016 PRism Awards

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RIT took home awards in seven categories at the 2016 PRism Awards, hosted by the Rochester chapter of the Public Relations Society of America.

Rochester Institute of Technology earned seven awards at the 2016 PRism Awards ceremony, including gaining the top honors in three categories.

University News Services garnered three PRism statuettes while RIT’s Production Services group received an Award of Excellence in the website category for the RIT United Way Campaign Website. In addition, RIT’s Office for Diversity and Inclusion shared a PRism with University News for a collaboration on multicultural public relations and won an Award of Excellence for Women of Color, Honor and Ambition (W.O.C.H.A.).

The annual awards, hosted by the Rochester chapter of the Public Relations Society of America, honor outstanding work in the field of public relations, among both corporate and not-for-profit sectors.

“The University News team prides itself on being strong storytellers and content providers,” said Bob Finnerty, RIT chief communications officer. “These awards are a gratifying validation of the broad range of public relations work produced by talented marketing and communications professionals across the campus. Of particular note this year were the honors in areas that represent strategic initiatives for the university—diversity, our 2025 strategic plan, and our rapid ascent as a research university.”

At the awards ceremony, held June 16 at the Rochester Museum and Science Center, University News Services took top honors in three categories:

• Other Writing Projects: Greatness Through Difference, a special commemorative publication highlighting the key pillars of RIT’s strategic plan, under the direction of Associate Director Mindy Mozer.

• Multicultural Public Relations: “Expressions of King’s Legacy,” a series of communications honoring Martin Luther King Jr. led by Senior Communication Specialist Michelle Cometa and RIT’s Office for Diversity and Inclusion.

• Photography: For a selection by A. Sue Weisler, UNS manager of photography, titled “Spotlighting People, Events and Campus through Photography.”

RIT also was recognized with Awards of Excellence in four categories:

• Newsletter: Athenaeum, a campus-wide publication produced by the UNS staff six times a year, under the direction of Director Ellen Rosen. The Athenaeum has been recognized in this category every year since it was first published.

• Website: The RIT United Way Campaign Website, featuring United Way success stories developed by RIT Production Services, including Megan Bastian (designer), Joseph Geraci (web developer), Elizabeth Lamark (photographer), Lynn Rowoth (content), and Raman Bhalla (producer).

• Institutional/Image Communications: “The Makings of a Research University,” a series of communications recognizing RIT’s ascent to a research university.

• Multicultural Public Relations: Women of Color, Honor and Ambition (W.O.C.H.A.), a new program co-sponsored by RIT’s office for Diversity and Inclusion. The project was led by Devon Watters, graphic designer and social media specialist.

The winners were chosen from among hundreds of corporate and not-for-profit entries. Judging this competition were members of the Fort Worth, Texas chapter of the Public Relations Society of America. More about the 2016 PRism Awards event winners and the local PRSA chapter can be found at the organization’s website, prsarochester.org.