By Nicole Lyons,
May 20, 2025

The UCM Office of Integrated Marketing and Communications earned seven gold awards
from the
Educational Advertising Awards, along with 17 additional honors.
The Office of Integrated Marketing and Communications (IMC) at the University of Central
Missouri (UCM) earned an impressive 24 honors from the 40th annual Educational Advertising
Awards, including seven gold awards.
The Educational Advertising Awards is the largest educational advertising awards competition in the country. This year,
the contest received more than 2,000 entries from more than 1,000 colleges, universities
and secondary schools in all 50 states and several other countries. Entries were judged
by a national panel of higher education marketers, creative directors and marketing
and advertising professionals.
“I'm very proud of the work IMC produces,” said Susan Smedley, vice president of Integrated Marketing and Communications. “These awards demonstrate the highly skilled level at which we work – synthesizing
creativity, strategy and technical skill to promote the globally competitive performance
of the University of Central Missouri. And to have this work recognized in this way
is gratifying.”
IMC is responsible for building and maintaining the integrity of the UCM brand. By
working closely with campus stakeholders, IMC shares the university’s message across
many platforms. The office uses a comprehensive marketing strategy with digital, social,
print and traditional media campaigns to support UCM’s strategic goals.
Additionally, IMC partners with the UCM campus community to produce compelling, brand-centric
communications. IMC provides departments and offices with resources and guidance to
enhance their marketing and communication strategies that support institutional goals
of growth in enrollment, retention and student success.
IMC’s honors from the Educational Advertising Awards include:
Gold Awards
Total Recruitment Package: Redefining What's Possible campaign
Integrated Marketing Campaign: Redefining What's Possible campaign
Radio Advertising-Single: “Go Time,” Redefining What's Possible radio ad
Student Viewbook: 2024-25 Student Viewbook
Online Publications: Spring 2023 UCM Magazine
Special Event Materials: Breakfast Club promotions
Logo/Letterhead Design: 2024 Homecoming logo
Silver Awards
Publication/Internal: UCM Traditions Keeper booklet
Special Promotions Campaign: UCM Giving Tuesday 2023 campaign
Streaming/On Demand Content: “Go Time,” Redefining What’s Possible video ad
Poster: Jingle on the Quad poster
Total Fund Raising/Development Campaign: Dreams Unite major campaign booklet
Website Refresh: 2024 UCM website homepage refresh
Annual Report: 2023 Annual Report inside Fall 2023 UCM Magazine
Bronze Awards
Streaming/On Demand Content: “Someday Graduate” video ad
Installations: Jerry M. Hughes Athletics Center installations
Special Event Campaign: Theatre and Dance 2024 Season promotions
Email Marketing-Single or Campaign: UCM/Encoura email marketing campaign
Merit Awards
Brochure: UCM Alumni Foundation informational brochure
Publication/External: Spring 2023 UCM Magazine
Instagram Content: Redefining What's Possible Instagram carousel ad
Instagram Content: Higher Learning Commission Instagram video series campaign
Direct Mail: Fall 2024 Annual Giving appeal
Special Video: Distinguished Alumni video - LaTonia Collins Smith
To learn more about the UCM Office of Integrated Marketing and Communications, visit
ucmo.edu/imc.