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Minnesota PRSA Honors Achievements in Local Communications During 2017

Published on 4/25/2018

Exponent PR Clinches Best of Show at 40th anniversary edition of Classics Awards, 45 other award-winners formally recognized 

 

MINNEAPOLIS (April 23, 2018) – Exponent PR took home Best in Show for its Wading into Uncharted Waters communications program, in conjunction with WinField United, as the Minnesota chapter of the Public Relations Society of America (Minnesota PRSA) held the 40th Annual Minnesota PRSA 2018 Classics Awards. The annual event held on April 19 at The Grand 1858 at Minneapolis Event Centers serves as a celebration of top communications efforts executed within the chapter territory, which includes Minnesota, the Dakotas and western Wisconsin.

 

"The Minnesota PRSA Classics Awards is a celebration of not only the exceptional work being done in our region but also vibrant communications community we have in Minnesota," said Minnesota PRSA President, Eva Keiser, APR.

 

In total, 46 awards were presented during the evening, honoring professional achievements from 2017. Awards included 37 awards highlighting strategic communication elements and communications programs, and four student awards. Holli Henderson (Young Professional Award), Paul Maccabee (Padilla Award), Jack Nachtigal (Dr. Willard Thompson Scholarship First Place) and Rachel Oehlke (Dr. Willard Thompson Scholarship Runner-up) were also recognized for their individual achievements.

 

2017 Best in Show Award

Exponent PR beat out 21 other program award winners en route to taking home the evening’s top prize. The Wading into Uncharted Waters campaign aims to educate stakeholders about the use of fresh water in agriculture and the long-range effects of not protecting this vital natural resource. Specifically, the message initiated a conversation regarding the responsible use of water in farming.

 

Donald G. Padilla Distinguished Practitioner Award

Minnesota PRSA recognized Paul Maccabee, of Maccabee Public Relations, as the Donald G. Padilla Distinguished Practitioner Award recipient. The award is given to an outstanding individual who has made selfless contributions to the public relations industry and demonstrated exceptional professional achievement.

 

Young Professional of the Year Award

Holli Henderson, working for U.S. Bank, was recognized as the Minnesota PRSA Young Professional of the Year. This award is given to a rising star in the chapter who has contributed to their organization, industry and community.

 

Dr. Willard Thompson Scholarship

Jack Nachtigal, a student at the University of Minnesota, was the first-place finisher for the scholarship, netting him a $2,000 prize and complimentary PRSA membership. Rachel Oehlke, also a student at the University of Minnesota, was selected as the runner-up, earning a $1,000 prize and complimentary PRSA membership.

 

Student Awards

News/Feature Writing

A New Appreciation for the American Soldier

Leah Blom, Augustana University

 

PR Campaigns

Pole Vault Clinic PR Campaign

Maria Missurelli, Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota

  

Personal Branding/Portfolio

Eastern Europe: Cultural Trauma, Communications, and the Camera

Grace Fjellanger, Augustana University

 

Digital Projects

Augustana PRSSA ‘No Meth Ever’ Social Media Campaign

Augustana University PRSSA Chapter

 

Classics Awards Program Winners

Community Relations (Agency/Organization with fewer than 25 Employees)

Bringing Minnesota’s Fire Community Together

Bellmont Partners

 

Community Relations (Agency/Organization with more than 25 Employees)

Stacy’s Helps Women Rise into Leadership Roles in Kitchens Across America

Carmichael Lynch Relate

 

Institutional Programs (Agency/Organization with more than 25 Employees)

Engaging Young Journalist to advance Health Equity

Padilla

 

Special Events/Observances (Less than Seven Days, Agency/Organization with fewer than 25 Employees)

Getting “Up Close” with the 2017 Artability Art Show & Sale

Bellmont Partners

 

Special Events/Observances (Less than Seven Days, Agency/Organization with more than 25 Employees)

Sun Country Airlines Hometown Lakes Project

Carmichael Lynch Relate

 

Special Events/Observances (More than Seven Days)

Minnesota Wild Turns Pond Water into Hockey Gold

ICF Olson

 

Public Services

Engaging Young Journalist to Advance Health Equity

Padilla

 

Marketing Services (Agency/Organization with fewer than 25 Employees)

Empowering Energy Education with Unified Branding & Messaging

Strother Communications Group

 

Marketing Services (Agency/Organization with more than 25 Employees)

The 40-Year Neighborhood Watch: Omega Property Management with Rocket55

Rocket55

 

Marketing Products (Agency/Organization with fewer than 25 Employees)

Angie’s BOOMCHICKAPOP Empowers Women with POP of POSITIVITY Tour

Kohnstamm Communications

 

Marketing Products (Agency/Organization with fewer than 25 Employees)

Garden of Life Fuels Fitness Fanatics with #GOLSport Clean Nutrition

Carmichael Lynch Relate

 

Crisis/Issue Management

Medtronic Weather the Storm and Returns to Full Operations in Puerto Rico

Medtronic

 

Reputation/Brand Management

Everyday Life. Powered Locally.

Exponent PR

 

Internal Communications

Operation: Newsletter

Weber Shandwick

 

International/Multicultural Public Relations

Engaging Young Journalists to advance Health Equity

Padilla

 

Integrated Programs (B2B Products)          

Feeding the World – It Starts With an Acre

Exponent PR

 

Integrated Programs (B2B Services)

Living Acres: Preserving Monarch Butterflies

Padilla

 

Integrated Programs (Consumer Products)

Minnesota Wild Turns Pond Water into Hockey Gold

ICF Olson

 

Integrated Programs (Consumer Services)

Wading Into Uncharted Waters

Exponent PR

 

Integrated Programs (Government/Non-Profit)

Winning the Awareness Battle for Soldier Protection

Padilla

 

Integrated Programs (Healthcare)

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota - Reverse It Prediabetes Awareness Campaign

Padilla

 

Integrated Programs (Technology)

Honeywell Goes Live to Drive Demand Worldwide

Weber Shandwick

 

Classics Awards Elements Awards

Special Purpose Publications

Minnesota State Viewbook

Neuger Communications Group

 

Multimedia

The Timberwolves Launch a #NewEra

Olson Engage

 

Annual Reports

The Future of Rural Communities Starts with You

Exponent PR

Influencer Outreach

Edwards Serves Piece on Pi(e) Day

Carmichael Lynch Relate

 

Newsletters

Operation: Newsletter

Weber Shandwick

 

Media Relations (Agency/Organization with fewer than 25 Employees)

3M: Becoming the BSI thought leader

Inprela Communications

 

Media Relations (Agency/Organization with more than 25 Employees)

Garden of Life Fuels Fitness Fanatics with #GOLSport Clean Nutrition

Carmichael Lynch Relate

 

Feature, Speech and Public Relations Writing

Bringing Urgency to Trauma

Weber Shandwick

 

Digital Execution

Planting the Seed for Better Crop Health

Exponent PR

 

Brand Research and Insights

Trending Topics: Collegis Education Research

Beehive Strategic Communication

 

Social Content Series (Agency/Organization with fewer than 25 Employees)

Creating Customers with IWCO Direct's Industry Leading Blog

Strother Communications Group

 

Social Content Series (Agency/Organization with more than 25 Employees)

The Timberwolves Launch a #NewEra

Olson Engage

 

Social Media Promotion (Agency/Organization with fewer than 25 Employees)

Creating Customers with IWCO Direct's Industry Leading Blog

Strother Communications Group

 

Social Media Promotion (Agency/Organization with more than 25 Employees)

Edwards Serves Piece on Pi(e) Day

Carmichael Lunch Relate

 

Creative PR Tactics

Edwards Serves Piece on Pi(e) Day

Carmichael Lunch Relate