Only in its second year of operation, Old Dominion's research magazine, Quest, was listed among the top three publications in the state at the 52nd annual Virginia Public Relations awards luncheon in Richmond June 30.

The program, sponsored by the Public Relations Society of America, Richmond chapter, recognizes communications and graphics excellence in several categories. Besides publications, awards are given for annual reports, special events, community relations, crisis management and media relations. Several hundred entries were received from across the state.

Judges, who were Washington, D.C.-based communicators, said, "Quest is creative and has a great design. The publication is impressive graphically and editorially."

John R. Broderick, vice president for institutional advancement, said he was especially gratified to accept the award after assessing the competition. "We were competing with large public relations firms and advertising agencies and several large corporations with big staffs. Once I realized that, I began to feel more and more proud about what we have accomplished."

Quest, which is published twice a year, is edited by Jim Schultz and designed by Sharon Lomax. Victoria Burke is the project manager and Broderick serves as the executive editor along with Provost Jo Ann Gora.

"Quest's recognition is a direct tribute to a small, dedicated staff and to the outstanding faculty research being conducted on this campus that enables us to produce such a high-level product," Broderick said. "We have been able to cover, editorially and visually, subjects ranging from modeling and simulation to the latest technological advances in physics research. Our faculty make it easy for us because they are involved in so many credible and exciting projects." The publication has a circulation of more than 6,000. It can be accessed on the Web at www.odu.edu/~instadv/quest.