Pitt-Bradford receives national advertising award for freshman orientation handbook

BRADFORD, PA – The University of Pittsburgh at Bradford has received a Gold Award in the 2014 national Collegiate Advertising Awards program, which recognizes colleges and universities for their outstanding creative achievements in communications, marketing, advertising and promotions.

Pitt-Bradford received a Gold Award in the Handbook category for a new handbook that was created last spring and distributed in July during Beginnings, the university’s freshman orientation program. The 50-page handbook featured much of the information first-year students and their families would need, including details about academic programs and resources, student services, student life, and financial aid.

Last year was the first time orientation information was combined into a handbook, which also included many campus photos, areas where students could take notes, and contact information for all of the academic departments and offices on campus.

“It’s always a pleasure to be recognized by industry experts,” said Pat Frantz Cercone, executive director of communications and marketing who spearheaded the project. “We hope this handbook made orientation and the transition to college easier for our students and their families, which was our goal.”

Faculty and staff from several offices and departments on campus contributed information to the handbook, which was designed by Mark Zampogna of Laser Layouts in Bradford, who is also a 1988 Pitt-Bradford alumnus.

This year, the Collegiate Advertising Awards program received more than 900 entries from college and universities in the United States. All submissions were reviewed and scored by a national panel of industry experts, with a possibility of 100 points. Entries receiving Gold Awards earned scores between 95 and 99.  

This is the fifth award Pitt-Bradford has received in the Collegiate Advertising Awards program. Previously, the university has received one Gold Award and three Silver Awards.

All winners are posted on the Collegiate Advertising website at www.collegiateadawards.com.