OCTC's Marketing and Communications Department Wins Big at NCMPR Awards

by Bernie Hale

Owensboro, KY (11/03/2025) — The Marketing and Communications Department at Owensboro Community & Technical College (OCTC) has been recognized for its outstanding work in the 2024-25 academic year, receiving three prestigious Medallion Awards from the District 2 National Council for Marketing and Public Relations (NCMPR).

OCTC's innovative and engaging marketing campaigns stood out among entries from community colleges across the region. The college was honored with the following awards:

Gold Medallion Award: Print Ad: Single or Series, OCTC's More options. Less Debt. campaign, incorporating a Trade Wars QR code and a reminder for Spring, Summer, and Fall classes, was all incorporated in a crisp, clean manner.

Silver Medallion Award: Poster Single or Series: OCTC's The Salem Witch Trials 2024 Events Schedule. The poster used a parchment background and block graphics to depict the many and varied events associated with the Salem Witch Trial Student Research Exhibition.

Bronze Medallion Award: Postcard: Single or Series, OCTC's Financial Aid Office postcard reminding students about loan repayment, how to log back in and how and why to avoid default.

"These awards are a testament to the creativity, skill, and dedication of our Marketing and Communications team," said Dr. Scott Williams, President of OCTC. "Their work plays a crucial role in engaging students, promoting our programs, and supporting our mission of providing accessible, high-quality education."

The award-winning campaigns showcased OCTC's commitment to innovation and student success. The "More options. Less Debt." print ad series effectively communicated the college's affordable, flexible learning options, while the "Salem Witch Trials 2024 Events Schedule" poster generated excitement for the college's unique student research exhibition. The Financial Aid Office postcard demonstrated OCTC's proactive approach to supporting students in managing their finances and avoiding default.

"We are thrilled to have our work recognized by NCMPR," said Bernie Hale, Marketing Communications Director at OCTC. "These awards reflect our department's dedication to creating impactful, student-focused marketing materials that inform, engage, and inspire our community."

The award-winning materials were developed by OCTC's talented Marketing and Communications Department employees, including Linda Taylor, part-time assistant, writer, and event coordinator; Rodney Newton, producer, and videographer; Hailey Pickle, Marketing/PR Specialist; graphic design, photography, social media; and digital display; and Katie Powers, Marketing/Recruiting coordinator; graphic design, event planning, and she serves as co-chair for OCTC's Recruiting Work Team.

Looking ahead, the department remains focused on developing innovative, data-driven marketing strategies that support student recruitment, retention, and success. By continually refining their approach and leveraging the latest tools and platforms, OCTC's Marketing and Communications team is poised to build on their award-winning work and elevate the college's brand and impact in the community.

For more information about OCTC's programs and services, visit owensboro.kctcs.edu.

Owensboro Community & Technical College is one of the sixteen community and technical colleges that make up the Kentucky Community & Technical College System. OCTC serves the KY counties of Daviess, Hancock, Ohio and McLean. OCTC has three campuses in Daviess County and a Center and Annex in Hancock County. OCTC strives to serve the communities in the service area by providing associate degree education for transfer, state of the art technical education for students focusing on entering the workforce, customized business and industry solutions through the Workforce Solutions division, and adult education and business and industry testing through the SkillTrain unit.

The Kentucky Community and Technical College System is the Commonwealth's largest postsecondary institution with 16 colleges and more than 70 campuses. We also are Kentucky's largest provider of workforce training and online education. Through partnerships with business and industry, we align our programs to meet the needs of local employers. We help students fulfill their dreams of creating a better life through programs that lead directly to jobs or help them transfer to one of our four-year partners.

Connect with OCTC: Owensboro.kctcs | Facebook.com/owensboroctc | Twitter@OCTC_Tweets | Instagram OwensboroCTC