Three ODU Submissions Win Local Public Relations Awards
November 21, 2018
Philip Walzer
By Brendan O'Hallaran
Old Dominion University submissions captured three Pinnacle Awards at the annual ceremony honoring the best in local public relations by the Hampton Roads chapter of the Public Relations Society of America.
Student Hang Tran and the COMM ePortfolio initiative of the Department of Communication & Theatre Arts won two awards - the Award of Excellence for Special Events and the Best in Show award for student entry.
Philip Walzer and Karen Smallets of ODU's Office of Strategic Communication and Marketing received the Award of Merit for magazines for their work on Monarch Magazine and Monarch Extra.
The Pinnacle Awards luncheon, held Nov. 14 at the Norfolk Yacht Club, also marked Hampton Roads PRSA's 35thyear.
Local public relations professionals competed in 21 categories, ranging from annual reports and newsletters to community relations and social media campaigns. Retired news anchor Joe Flanagan was the event's master of ceremonies.
Tran, who is graduating in December with a B.S. in communications and a public relations emphasis, was awarded the highest score among every submission for the Pinnacle Awards.
"I'm totally overwhelmed," Tran said. "I am so thankful to the Hampton Roads PRSA, and for the opportunities I've received from our student organization, ODU PRSSA."
Monarch magazine is published twice a year, and Monarch Extra is posted twice a year.
"We appreciate the recognition from PRSA of our efforts to make both our print and digital magazines engaging and inviting to alumni and other readers," said Walzer, the Monarch Magazine and University editor. "Our goal is to continue to innovate, in terms of content and design, with every issue."
The University created Monarch Extra in February 2017. "Monarch Magazine and Monarch Extra complement each other visually.The digital magazine provides the viewer with an interactive experience enhanced by slideshows, animation, audio, video and other elements that bring university stories to life," added Smallets, Monarch Magazine art director.
Janet Molinaro serves as copy editor for Monarch magazine and Monarch Extra. Current and previous issues are at www.odu.edu/monarchmag.
