Public relations excellence recognized at annual SCPRSA Mercury Awards event

The South Carolina Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America (SCPRSA) hosted its annual Mercury Awards celebration on Thursday, April 28 in Greenville. Communication professionals from across the state were recognized for their work, with more than 50 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 Ketchum, for “Beyond the Driving Test,” a brand and reputation management program for Michelin. The overall Best in Show Silver Wing Award winner was Patriots Point Naval and Maritime Museum for their social media program.

Katie Sanders of Flourish in Greenville was recognized as the chapter’s Rookie of the Year, an award for a young practitioner with fewer than three years of experience in public relations.

Jeff Ranta, senior instructor in the University of South Carolina School of Journalism and Mass Communications, received the George L. Johnson Community Spirit Award.

Dr. Brian McKinley of Greenville Health System received the Executive Excellence Award for his exceptional support of the public relations function in his organization.

This year, SCPRSA created a new competition for students at colleges and universities in South Carolina, who were eligible to enter any of the available categories to compete against other students. Both student awards were won by the University of South Carolina’s 2015 PRSSA Bateman Team: a Mercury Award of Merit for Public Service for their campaign for Home Works of America and a Silver Wing Award of Merit for Creative Tactics for a Mentor Blitz conducted for Home Works of America.

MERCURY AWARD WINNERS

Community Relations:
Award of Excellence
25th Walk for Life and Race for Life Postponement
Palmetto Health Foundation (Columbia)

Brand and Reputation Management:
Award of Excellence
Beyond the Driving Test
Ketchum (New York) for Michelin (Greenville)

Events and Observances (Seven or Fewer Days):
Award of Excellence
2015 Children’s Trust of South Carolina Prevention Conference
Children’s Trust of South Carolina (Columbia)

Award of Excellence
Rutland Institute’s James F. Barker Ethics in Action Award Dinner
Flourish (Greenville)

Award of Merit
Devro Grand Opening
Riggs Partners (West Columbia)

Events and Observances (More Than Seven Days):
Award of Excellence
Carolina’s Promise Campaign
University of South Carolina (Columbia)

Public Affairs:
Award of Merit
Don’t Dump on Greenville
Complete Public Relations (Greenville)

Marketing Consumer Services:
Award of Excellence
A New Audience for Treatment Services
LRADAC (Columbia)

Marketing Business to Business:
Award of Excellence
Colonial Life Small Business Program
Colonial Life (Columbia)

Crisis Communications and Issues Management:
Award of Excellence
Takata Airbag Recall
Motley Rice LLC (Charleston)

Internal Communications:
Award of Merit
Sonoco Paperless Pay Campaign
Sonoco (Hartsville)

Integrated Communications:
Award of Excellence
Famously Hot New Year
Flock and Rally (Columbia)

Award of Excellence
Meeting the Mission for Growth
The Citadel (Charleston)

SILVER WING AWARD WINNERS

Media Relations – Business to Business:
Award of Excellence
South Carolina Aerospace Conference and Expo 2015
Riggs Partners (West Columbia) for the SC Council on Competitiveness

Media Relations – Associations/Government/Nonprofit Organizations:
Award of Excellence
America’s Band 2015
The Citadel (Charleston)

Award of Excellence
Dental Access Days
Riggs Partners (West Columbia) for Delta Dental

Award of Merit
Deshaun Watson National Media Coverage for Habitat for Humanity
Complete Public Relations (Greenville)

Award of Merit
merry masterpiece pARTy
Palmetto Health Foundation (Columbia)

Award of Merit
Woodlands at Furman FUSE Story
Complete Public Relations (Greenville)

Award of Merit
Workforce Development Salute for Greenville Tech Foundation
Crawford Strategy (Greenville)

Newsletters – Digital:
Award of Merit
Coldwell Banker Caine’s Monthly Newsletter
Flourish (Greenville)

Award of Merit
Co-Counsel Quarterly Newsletter
Motley Rice LLC (Charleston)

Magazines – External Audiences Primarily:
Award of Merit
GSSM Alumni Magazine
SC Governor’s School for Science and Mathematics (Hartsville)

Annual Reports – For Profit Organizations:
Award of Merit
Sonoco 2014 Annual Report: Grow and Optimize
Sonoco (Hartsville)

Annual Reports – Nonprofit Organizations:
Award of Merit
Our Path to Impact 2015
Children’s Trust of South Carolina (Columbia)

Award of Merit
Pathways to a Brighter Future
LRADAC (Columbia)

Award of Merit
We’ve Made a Difference Together
LRADAC (Columbia)

Brochures – Print:
Award of Excellence
#FMExpectations View Book
Francis Marion University (Florence)

Award of Excellence
GSSM View Book
SC Governor’s School for Science and Mathematics (Hartsville)

Publications – Books:
Award of Excellence
The Municipal Association’s Hard Cover History Book
Municipal Association of South Carolina (Columbia)

Press Kits – Digital:
Award of Merit
South Carolina Aerospace Conference and Expo Press Kit
Riggs Partners (West Columbia) for the SC Council on Competitiveness

Social Media:
Award of Excellence
Patriots Point Social Media Program
Patriots Point Naval and Maritime Museum (Charleston)

Award of Merit
#FMExpectations Social Campaign
Francis Marion University (Florence)

Award of Merit
South Carolina Aerospace Conference and Expo
Riggs Partners (West Columbia)

Award of Merit
Aflac Duckprints Social Media
Palmetto Health Foundation (Columbia)

Blogs:
Award of Excellence
Changes in Mammogram Recommendations
Greenville Health System (Greenville)

Award of Excellence
Wingspan Blog
Crawford Strategy (Greenville)

Blogger Campaign:
Award of Excellence
Denny’s Uses Blogger Program to Fight Childhood Hunger
Erwin Penland (Greenville)

Creative Tactics:
Award of Excellence
Mini Death Valley
Rawle Murdy (Charleston) for The Reserve at Lake Keowee

Award of Merit
Ice on Main Water Bottle
Crawford Strategy (Greenville)

Award of Merit
Media Outreach, White Cloud Video Contest
Palmetto Health Foundation (Columbia)

Feature Writing:
Award of Excellence
Columbia Business Monthly Column
Municipal Association of South Carolina (Columbia)

Editorials and Op-Ed Columns:
Award of Excellence
Greenville Women Giving Mere Girls Op-Ed
Flourish (Greenville)

Award of Merit
The State Newspaper: “Another Moment of Grace”
Municipal Association of South Carolina (Columbia)

Advertorial:
Award of Merit
Cities Mean Business Magazine
Municipal Association of South Carolina (Columbia)

Websites – External:
Award of Excellence
LRADAC.org
LRADAC (Columbia)

Award of Excellence
MotleyRice.com
Motley Rice LLC (Charleston)

Award of Merit
MASC.sc
Municipal Association of South Carolina (Columbia)

Multimedia Communications – Smartphone/Tablet Applications:
Award of Merit
Sonoco Mobile App
Sonoco (Hartsville)

 

 

South Carolina PRSA

South Carolina PRSA is one of more than 100 chapters of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA), the world’s largest and foremost organization of public relations professionals. PRSA provides professional development, sets standards of excellence and upholds principles of ethics for its members. Established in 1967, SCPRSA has 200 members across South Carolina representing public relations agencies, corporations, nonprofit organizations and institutions of higher education.

 

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