Early Bird

MSU Denver team wins top public-relations honors

The Strategy, Marketing and Communications branch won big at the 2019 Public Relations Society of America Colorado Chapter awards event.

By Lindsey Coulter

May 8, 2019

Three — scratch that — four cheers for the Metropolitan State University of Denver Strategy, Marketing and Communications team. On May 2, the team brought home three Public Relations Society of America 2019 Gold Pick Awards as well as one of the evening’s top special awards.

Given by the Colorado Chapter of the PRSA, the awards celebrate outstanding professionals and achievements in the field of public relations and communications, recognizing best practices and high ethical standards among leaders and peers in the industry.

The MSU Denver team was awarded Gold Picks, equivalent to first prize, in three categories. The RED platform was recognized for best online newsroom, the Rundown With President Janine Davidson series was honored for best online video, and the Early Bird took home the prize for top digital employee-engagement newsletter.

Most excitingly, however, MSU Denver also won in an award category that speaks to our Universitywide CADRE values: Public Relations Team of the Year.

Winners of this prestigious award are selected for their ability to work as a cohesive unit, delivering innovative and creative results while also making a positive impact on the communications profession. The MSU Denver team was honored in particular for its success in communicating the institution’s evolution from a local safety school known as “Metro” to MSU Denver — the leading public university in the heart of downtown Denver – and helping position the University as a first-choice school for many Colorado students. See a video highlighting the team's accomplishments.

“To be recognized as the team of the year from peers — not just in higher education but the entire public relations field — is quite an honor,” said Cathy Lucas, vice president of strategy. “This speaks not only to the quality work we are doing in strategic communications, brand management, public affairs and community outreach, but also the innovation, passion and dedication of the entire team. I couldn’t be prouder to lead and work with such an amazing group who are moving the needle on MSU Denver’s brand and reputation on a daily basis.”

MSU Denver’s Strategy, Marketing and Communications team includes 26 members across areas such as strategic communications, employee engagement, brand journalism, digital strategy, government relations, events, marketing and client services. In 2019, the team will launch a new brand campaign and brand-evangelist program, host a TEDx event on campus and ramp up to the creation and launch of a new strategic plan.

Among its many other recent accomplishments, the team designed and launched the RED brand-journalism platform and scored nearly 3,500 media placements with a reach of over 1.8 billion. The team redesigned the University’s admission website, launched a Spanish-language admission site and redesigned 40 academic department pages. Team members also hosted a weeklong, nine-event Inauguration celebration for President Janine Davidson, Ph.D., that drew more than 2,000 people, won 10 other awards for their work and celebrated MSU Denver’s surpassing its brand-recognition goal with 84 percent of external respondents rating MSU Denver as “good” to “excellent.”