Public relations excellence recognized at annual SCPRSA Mercury Awards event
May 15, 2018
The South Carolina Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America (SCPRSA) hosted its annual Mercury Awards celebration on Thursday, May 3 in Columbia. Communication professionals from across the state were recognized for their work, with more than 60 awards presented at the event.
The awards program includes three types of awards. Mercury Awards recognize public relations programs and campaigns, Silver Wing Awards recognize outstanding tactics used in public relations, and Individual Awards recognize the career accomplishments of individuals.
The overall Best in Show Mercury Award winner was Flock and Rally for “Total Eclipse Weekend Columbia, SC Integrated Marketing Campaign.” The overall Best in Show Silver Wing Award winner was Palmetto Health Foundation for “Walk for Life and Famously Hot Pink Half Marathon Research and Evaluation.”
Ashley Dusenbury, APR, assistant vice president of communications for Palmetto Health Foundation was recognized as the W. Thomas Duke Distinguished Public Relations Practitioner of the Year, the chapter’s highest individual honor.
Brooke McKeever, Ph.D., assistant professor in the University of South Carolina School of Journalism and Mass Communications, received the chapter’s Educator of the Year Award.
Elizabeth Gibbes Robinson of Haynsworth Sinkler Boyd received the chapter’s Volunteer Service Award, which recognizes her dedicated service as a board and committee member.
Jamie O’Keeffe, a senior public relations major in the University of South Carolina School of Journalism and Mass Communications, received the Public Relations Student of the Year Award.
A complete list of winners by category follows.
~ MERCURY AWARD WINNERS ~
Community Relations
Award of Merit: Knowledge on Tap, Columbia Water
Brand and Reputation Management
Award of Excellence: Children’s Trust Brand Guide, Children’s Trust of South Carolina
Award of Excellence: Brand Visibility Campaign, University of South Carolina College of Hospitality, Retail and Sport Management
Events and Observances, Seven Days or Fewer
Award of Excellence: Midlands Gives 2017, LRADAC
Award of Excellence: Eclipse Over Clemson, Flourish Integrated Communications
Award of Excellence: Total Eclipse Weekend Columbia, S.C., Flock and Rally with Total Eclipse Weekend Steering Committee
Award of Merit: Greenville Tech Foundation Carlos Ghosn Visit and Events, Crawford Strategy
Events and Observances, More Than Seven Days
Award of Excellence: Rock for Recovery 2017, LRADAC
Award of Excellence: Trijicon® Millionth ACOG Celebration, Jackson Marketing Group
Public Service
Award of Excellence: Change is Coming! SCDOT Carolina Crossroads Corridor Improvement Project, HDR, Inc. with South Carolina Department of Transportation
Award of Excellence: Not My Kid, LRADAC
Award of Merit: The PRESS, LRADAC
Public Affairs
Award of Excellence: Changing the Narrative of the Legislative Business License Debate, Municipal Association of South Carolina
Award of Merit: Maternal Infant Early Childhood Home Visiting Reauthorization, Children’s Trust of South Carolina
Marketing Consumer Services
Award of Excellence: Pathways to Recovery, LRADAC
Award of Excellence: “Why I SWU” Integrated Marketing Campaign, Crawford Strategy
Award of Merit: The Green Book of South Carolina, Flock and Rally with the S.C. African American Heritage Commission
Marketing Business-to-Business
Award of Merit: BEUMER White Paper Placement, Jackson Marketing Group
Crisis Communications and Issues Management
Award of Excellence: The Coast is Clear: Communicating Before, During and After Hurricane Irma, Crawford Strategy for North Myrtle Beach CVB
Internal Communications
Award of Excellence: Miracle Team Employee Giving Campaign, Palmetto Health Foundation
Award of Merit: Comic-CARF 2017, LRADAC
Stakeholder/Investor Relations
Award of Excellence: Portfolio: Gratitude Issue, Palmetto Health Foundation
Integrated Communications
Award of Excellence: 701 CCA Columbia Open Studios 2017, Flock and Rally
Award of Excellence: Total Eclipse Weekend Columbia, S.C., Flock and Rally with Total Eclipse Weekend Steering Committee
Award of Merit: Degrees of Health, Chernoff Newman
Award of Merit: United Community Bank Ice on Main, Crawford Strategy
~ SILVER WING AWARDS ~
Media Relations – Associations, Government and Nonprofit Organizations
Award of Merit: The Hive Community Circle Conference, The Crawford Austin Agency
Newsletters – Digital
Award of Excellence: Motor Supply Co. Bistro, Flock and Rally
Award of Excellence: From the Dome to Your Home, Municipal Association of South Carolina
Award of Excellence: College of HRSM Newsletter, UofSC’s College of Hospitality, Retail and Sport Management
Award of Excellence: ePRESS, LRADAC
Magazines – Internal Audiences Primarily
Award of Excellence: Giving Magazine, BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina Corporate Marketing Communications
Award of Excellence: Portfolio Magazine, Palmetto Health Foundation
Brochures – Print
Award of Excellence: 701 CCA Columbia Open Studios 2017, Flock and Rally
Press Kits/Media Kits
Award of Excellence: Total Eclipse Weekend Columbia, S.C., Flock and Rally
Award of Merit: Press Kit for Judi Gatson Media, The Crawford Austin Agency
Audio/Visual Programs
Award of Excellence: Achievement Award Video, Municipal Association of South Carolina
Social Media
Award of Excellence: Charleston International Airport Social Media, Chernoff Newman
Award of Excellence: Rock for Recovery 2017, LRADAC
Award of Excellence: Midlands Gives 2017, LRADAC
Award of Excellence: College of HRSM Social Media, UofSC’s College of Hospitality, Retail and Sport Management
Award of Merit: Denny’s Pancake Tweet Offers Simple Distraction, EP+Co and Denny’s
Award of Merit: Southeastern Wildlife Expo Social for Certified S.C. Grown/Fresh on the Menu, Chernoff Newman
Award of Merit: Crafty Feast, Flock and Rally
Award of Merit: Eat & Drink for Mary, Flourish Integrated Communications
Blogs
Award of Excellence: City Connect, Municipal Association of South Carolina
Award of Excellence: The Buzz, Complete Public Relations
Creative Tacticx
Award of Excellence: The Big Spectacle, Chernoff Newman
Award of Merit: Walk for Life and Famously Hot Pink Half Marathon Shirt Reveal Video Campaign, Palmetto Health Foundation
Award of Merit: United Community Bank Ice on Main Opening Ceremony Invitation, Crawford Strategy
Award of Merit: Data Walk, DHEC
Advertorial
Award of Excellence: Cities Mean Business Magazine, Municipal Association of South Carolina
Award of Merit: Orthopaedics and Neurosurgery Special Section, Lexington Medical Center
Research and Evaluation
Award of Excellence: Walk for Life and Famously Hot Pink Half Marathon, Palmetto Health Foundation
Multimedia: Internal Programs and Presentations
Award of Merit: Executive Director Retirement Video, Municipal Association of South Carolina
Multimedia: External Programs and Presentations
Award of Excellence: Brand Impact Video, UofSC’s College of Hospitality, Retail and Sport Management
~ STUDENT AWARDS ~
Student Mercury Award of Excellence for Events and Observances, Seven or Fewer Days: Resilience Film Screening and Panel Discussion, The Carolina Agency, University of South Carolina
Student Mercury Award of Excellence for Public Service: Think Twice, University of South Carolina
Student Mercury Award of Merit for Public Service: South Carolina Coalition of Military Mental Health Awareness, USC PRSSA Bateman Team, University of South Carolina
Student Silver Wing Award of Merit for Social Media: Think Twice, University of South Carolina
South Carolina PRSA is one of more than 100 chapters of the Public Relations Society of America, the world’s largest professional association for public relations practitioners. Established in 1967, SCPRSA has more than 200 members across South Carolina representing public relations agencies, corporations, nonprofit organizations and institutions of higher education.
