Tag: Gregg Jones

Group of professionals holding awards outdoors on a college campus

Industry Recognition: Six NCMPR Medallions Awarded to ECC Marketing Team

October 31, 2024 | Campus News

The East Central College Communications and Marketing team brought home six Medallion Awards, including two first-place honors, from the National Council for Marketing and Public Relations (NCMPR) District 5 conference held Oct. 1-3 in St. Paul, Minn.

The team earned gold Medallions in the Podcast category for the “ECC Insiders” podcast, hosted by Joel Doepker and Leigh Kolb, and in the Social Media category for the College’s Facebook page. Silver Medallions were awarded for the College’s Instagram page and the short-form writing piece “Training Tomorrow’s Surgical Technicians at ECC.” Additionally, ECC was honored with bronze Medallions for its website, www.eastcentral.edu, and for logo design.

Discover some of the award-winning entries:

“These awards are particularly meaningful as they celebrate the range of work our communications team undertakes,” said Gregg Jones, Director of Communications and Marketing. “We strive to make a positive impact, and it’s incredibly rewarding to have our efforts recognized by peers in such a respected organization as NCMPR.”

Notably, this is the fifth consecutive year ECC’s Facebook page has been awarded a Medallion and the fourth year in a row the College’s website has received an award.

The NCMPR District 5 encompasses colleges in Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, the Canadian province of Manitoba, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands.

During the 2023-24 academic year, ECC’s Communications and Marketing team included Jones, Joel Doepker, Vice President of External Relations; Amanda Studdard, Multimedia Specialist; Andy Kolb, Coordinator of Web Services; Cynthia Cubas, External Relations Executive Administrative Assistant; and Abby Stanfield, Multimedia Assistant.

NCMPR is a premier association serving communications professionals at two-year community and technical colleges. With more than 1,700 members representing nearly 650 colleges across the U.S. and Canada, NCMPR offers professional development, advocacy, and recognition of excellence in the field.

ECC Marketing Team Recognized Nationally

March 26, 2024 | Campus News

East Central College’s Marketing team was honored with a prestigious national award for their postcard featuring photos of a local graduate taken during the College’s 2023 Commencement. The team clinched the 2023 Gold Paragon Award in the “Postcard” category from the National Council for Marketing & Public Relations (NCMPR) at the council’s annual conference in Seattle on March 15.

The award-winning postcard was mailed to potential students who had initiated the application process to ECC but had yet to submit their completed applications. It featured three photos of ECC graduate Carly Hamlyn as she crossed the stage to receive her diploma.

Hamlyn, an ECC Early College Academy and Washington High School graduate, symbolized the journey prospective students could embark on.

NCMPR judges praised the postcard with “Great photography! Strong message and visuals.” They particularly commended the call to action, emphasizing its role in motivating prospective students to take the next step toward their academic goals.

Gregg Jones, Director of Communications and Marketing, accepted the award at the NCMPR conference, acknowledging the collective effort of ECC’s communication and marketing team.

The 2023 Paragon Awards received over 1,500 entries from 210 community and technical colleges nationwide, highlighting the stiff competition.

ECC’s communication and marketing team includes:

Cynthia Cubas, External Relations Executive Administrative Assistant
Joel Doepker, Vice President of External Relations
Gregg Jones, Director of Communications and Marketing
Andy Kolb, Coordinator of Web Services
Abby Stanfield, Multimedia Assistant
Amanda Studdard, Multimedia Specialist

The National Council for Marketing & Public Relations (NCMPR) is dedicated to communication professionals at two-year community and technical colleges, providing invaluable opportunities for professional growth, advocacy, and recognition of excellence.

ECC Marketing Team Receives Four Medallion Awards, Director Named Rising Star

The East Central College Communications and Marketing team took home four Medallion Awards, including three for first place, from the National Communications, Marketing and Public Relations (NCMPR) District 5 conference.

The team won gold Medallions in the following categories: social media page, video shorts and excellence in writing-long form. The college was awarded a bronze Medallion in the college website category.

“What makes these awards so special is they are representative of the many facets of work that the communications team does,” said Gregg Jones, director of communications and marketing. “We put a lot of hard work into what we do, and it is a very satisfying when those efforts are recognized by our peers in a well-respected organization like NCMPR.”

East Central College Director of Communications and Marketing Gregg Jones received the National Communications, Marketing and Public Relations (NCMPR) District 5 Rising Star Award. The Rising Star Award recognizes newcomers to NCMPR and their fields. The Rising Star recipients demonstrate special creativity or ability in marketing and public relations; and show evidence of a promising future in the field. Jones is now one of seven candidates in consideration for the national Rising Star Award which will be presented in March 30 through April 1, 2023, at the NCMPR National Conference.

In addition to the medallions, Jones received the 2022 Rising Star Award for District 5.

The Rising Star Award recognizes newcomers to NCMPR and their fields. The Rising Star recipients demonstrate special creativity or ability in marketing and public relations; and show evidence of a promising future in the field.

Jones is now one of seven candidates in consideration for the national Rising Star Award which will be presented in March 30 through April 1, 2023, at the NCMPR National Conference.

Medallion Awards

This year is the third consecutive year the college’s Facebook page was recognized with a Medallion Award. This year, the college’s Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/EastCentral/, nabbed first place in the overall Social Media category.

The Gold Medallion awarded in the video shorts category was for the college’s commercial promoting 2022 fall registration that was shown on YouTube, Hulu and other streaming services. View the video at, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=88sjc_-10SU.

The third Gold Medallion ECC earned, in the writing-long form category, was for “Cuba Resident Finds Calling in ECC Welding Lab.” The story features a welding student from Cuba, Mo., who enrolled in the program after reading a story about a mother and son taking Welding courses. Read the story here, https://www.eastcentral.edu/blog/cuba-resident-finds-calling-in-ecc-welding-lab/.

The college’s website, www.eastcentral.edu, was recognized with a Medallion Award for the second straight year.

Communications & Marketing Team

ECC’s communication and marketing team is comprised of Jones, Joel Doepker, vice president of external relations; Amanda Studdard, multimedia specialist; Andy Kolb, coordinator of web services; Cynthia Cubas, external relations executive administrative assistant; and Abby Stanfield, multimedia assistant.

The NCMPR is the leading professional development association exclusively serving those working in communication at two-year community and technical colleges.

The organization provides professional development opportunities, advocates on behalf of the profession and the institutions it serves and recognizes professional excellence. NCMPR has more than 1,700 members from nearly 650 colleges across the United States and Canada.

Cutlines:

East Central College’s Communications and Marketing Department received four Medallion Awards at the National Communications, Marketing and Public Relations (NCMPR) District 5 conference last month. Pictured, from left, are Joel Doepker, vice president of external relations; ; Andy Kolb, coordinator of web services; Gregg Jones, director of communications and marketing; Amanda Studdard, multimedia specialist; and Cynthia Cubas, external relations executive administrative assistant.

ECC Celebrating International Education Week, Festival on Nov. 19

October 31, 2022 | Art Campus News Film and Lecture Series

International Week (IEW) is Nov. 14-18 this year, and for East Central College, the celebration continues to Saturday, Nov. 19, with International Festival from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in Café Central.

IEW began in 2000 under President Bill Clinton to celebrate the benefits of cultural and academic exchange programs around the world. IEW promotes how international education programs prepare Americans for a global environment and invite the world’s future leaders to exchange ideas.

Throughout the week, there will be activities, such as a virtual escape room or scavenger hunt, with an international theme. There will be drawings for winners for each of these activities.
Also, photo backdrops will be around campus where students and employees snap photos at locations “around the world.” Students and employees can send photos to Ellen Aramburu at Ellen.Aramburu@eastcentral.edu, and Gregg Jones at Gregg.Jones@eastcentral.edu, to be shared on social media.

Monday, Nov. 14

Flag walk —10:50 a.m., International students invited to display their home country’s flag during a parade. Location to be determined (weather permitting).

Tuesday, Nov. 15

Snack & Stories — 1 p.m. in Café Central. International students will share a little about their experience studying outside their country.

Guest Speaker, artist Ria Unson — She will present on “Filipinos at the 1904 World’s Fair: A Legacy of Race and Empire” at 3 p.m. In Hansen Hall 286 lecture hall. This presentation is open to the public.
*See more information below about speaker and topic.

Wednesday, Nov. 16

Snack & Stories — 1 p.m. in Café Central. International students will share a little about their experience studying outside their country.

Film & Lecture Series — 6 p.m., ECC Theatre showing of “¡Viva Maestro!”

Thursday, Nov. 17

International Candy Bar — 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., (or while supplies last) candy from around the world will be available in the Buescher Hall Lobby.

Saturday, Nov. 19

International Festival — 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in Café Central. Performances by Grupo Atlántico and Chinese Dance Group. There will be country booths, origami, landmark backdrops, international dress display, map puzzles, international story time, and more.

*About the Speaker, Ria Unson

Ria Unson is a Filipino American artist in St. Louis. She was born in the Philippines and emigrated to the U.S. at age 13. Unbeknownst to her, Ria’s great grandfather was brought to the 1904 World’s Fair after the American colonization of the Philippines. By sheer coincidence (or destiny) she moved to the historic neighborhood that once housed the Philippine Exhibit at the fair. Her work explores the continuing legacies of imperialism on identity, migration, and culture. Unson’s art will be in the permanent collection of the History Museum for the 120th anniversary of the Fair.

“Filipinos at the 1904 World’s Fair: A Legacy of Race and Empire”

One of the most popular attractions at the 1904 World’s Fair was the Philippine Exhibit, a 47-acre site that for nine months became home to over 1,000 people on display.

Unson traces the legacy of the fair as a descendant of one of those people.

Learn about how the image of Filipinos constructed at the fair was a method used to gain support for American imperialism and to domesticate the immigrant workers of St. Louis.

ECC’s Marketing Team Receives Gold Award at National Conference

April 14, 2022 | Campus News ECC Rolla

The East Central College Marketing team was recognized nationally with the 2021 Gold Paragon Award from the National Council for Marketing & Public Relations (NCMPR) at the council’s conference in Denver in March.

The award, for “Successful Recruitment or Marketing Program,” celebrates the marketing team’s efforts on the Finish Your Investment (FYI) recruitment program.

ECC’s FYI initiative provided a step-by-step guide for former students to finish what they started and earn a college degree.

There were 742 former students targeted during the initiative through postcards, social media and digital ad campaigns, print advertising and through the ECC website.

Director of Communications and Marketing Gregg Jones said the marketing campaign was multi-faceted and involved everyone on the communications team.

“That is what makes this award meaningful and noteworthy,” he said. “Through traditional advertising, digital ad creation, writing and our website, our entire team created a marketing campaign that resonated with people in the community.”

Jones added that a key element to the FYI initiative is that it was successful in its goal to reach former students who returned to finish their investment.

Under the degree reclamation program, 39 students “auto graduated” due to the number of credit hours they already had obtained. Another 31 students applied for admission; 20 enrolled in courses, five of whom earned a degree.

Jones attributed the success of FYI to the hard work of many ECC employees who contributed to the planning and implementation of the initiative.

Marketing Team/NCMPR

ECC’s communication and marketing team is comprised of Vice President of External Relations Joel Doepker, former External Relations Executive Administrative Assistant Hannah Masek, Coordinator of Web Services Andy Kolb, Multimedia Specialist Amanda Studdard, and Jones.

The team has grown in the past 6 months to include graphic designer Cole LaPlant, and student worker Abby Stanfield. Former staff member Sara Padgett also contributed to team projects over the past year.

The NCMPR is the leading professional development association exclusively serving those working in communication at two-year community and technical colleges.

Gold, silver, and bronze Paragon Awards are presented to two-year colleges across the nation by the NCMPR.

The 2021 Paragon Awards drew 1,719 entries from 232 colleges across the country and was judged by nearly 70 professionals from the marketing and public relations industry. Entries stretched from coast to coast and from Vancouver, Canada, to Florida.

NCMPR provides professional development opportunities, advocates on behalf of the profession and the institutions it serves, and recognizes professional excellence. NCMPR has more than 1,700 members from nearly 650 colleges across the United States and Canada.

ECC Receives Three Medallions for Communications and Marketing

October 28, 2021 | Campus News

East Central College received one Gold Medallion and two Silver Medallions in the 2021 National Council for Marketing & Public Relations (NCMPR) Medallion Awards.

The ECC communication and marketing team won the Gold Medallion for the social media or online marketing campaign category, the two Silver Medallions were awarded for the website and social media categories. The award ceremony was held on Oct. 10.

The NCMPR annually recognizes outstanding achievement in design and communication in each of its seven districts. The Medallion Awards are exclusive to marketing and public relations professionals at two-year colleges.

ECC is in NCMPR District 5, which includes Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, the Canadian province of Manitoba, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands.

“We had to make adjustments in how we reached students and the community due to the challenges and unknowns caused by the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Gregg Jones, director of communications and marketing.

“Connecting with students virtually became increasingly important, and it is great to see our efforts recognized by our peers.”

The Gold Medallion was awarded for the “Featured Falcon” weekly Facebook and Instagram graphic. The Featured Falcon is published weekly to draw attention to ECC students and employees.

The Silver Medallion in the website category was awarded for www.eastcentral.edu.

“There has been a lot of work done to update the website and increase the speed to make it more user-friendly,” Jones said. “It has made a huge impact in our website analytics.”

Finally, the college received a Silver Medallion for its Facebook page in the overall Social Media category.

ECC’s communication and marketing team is comprised of Vice President of External Relations Joel Doepker, External Relations Executive Administrative Assistant Hannah Masek, Coordinator of Web Services Andy Kolb, Multimedia Specialist Amanda Studdard, and Jones.

Former ECC staff member Sara Padgett also contributed greatly to team projects over the past year.

The NCMPR is the leading professional development association exclusively serving those working in communication at two-year community and technical colleges.

NCMPR provides professional development opportunities, advocates on behalf of the profession and the institutions it serves and recognizes professional excellence. NCMPR has more than 1,700 members from nearly 650 colleges across the United States and Canada.