Colorado State’s University Relations Department Earns National Award for Bse Response

Colorado State University’s Department of University Relations was recently recognized with a national award for efforts to help the public better understand the complex nature of bovine spongiform encephalopathy – or mad cow disease – and research being conducted by the university into this area during the BSE case in December 2003.

The 2004 Award for Publication Excellence award was given to Colorado State’s media relations team of Brad Bohlander, June Greist and Dell Rae Moellenberg for their work on the university’s BSE response campaign. The award was given by the national professional public relations and marketing group, Communications Concepts, in the category of Public Relations and Information Campaigns.

Colorado State was honored with such organizations as Blue Cross Blue Shield, AARP, The American Speech – Language – Hearing Association, Hong Kong Association of Business and Professional Women and TMG Public Relations with Citi New York.

Out of 329 international entries in the category of Campaigns, Programs and Plans, 18, including Colorado State, were honored with APEX Awards for Public Relations and Information Campaigns. In this category, the award is based on excellence in editorial content and the success of the entry in achieving overall communications effectiveness. The award also is based on the important factors of research, planning, objectives, execution and results.

"As the state’s land grant university, we are uniquely positioned to help our state and nation understand and deal with these types of issues," said Tom Milligan, assistant vice president for university relations at Colorado State. "We’re pleased that our efforts in assisting the faculty and staff, who do such outstanding work, were recognized."

Colorado State’s Department of University Relations also was honored with 2004 APEX awards in the categories of Individual Web Pages and Sections for customized Web pages for prospective students; Magazines and Journals for Alumni Magazine; Feature Series Writing for Diversity at Colorado State; Most Improved Newsletter for Comment; and, Calendars, Posters and Certificates for Colorado State Cooperative Extension 2004 Gardener’s Calendar.

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