2022 - Marketing and communications team recognized with 17 national awards

The Elgin Community College Marketing and Communications team earned top honors at the 2021 National Council for Marketing and Public Relations (NCMPR) National Conference, held Mar. 26 in Denver, Colo., and as part of the 37^th Annual Educational Advertising Awards announced in March 2022. The NCMPR Paragon Awards recognize outstanding achievement in design and communication at community and technical colleges. It is the only national competition of its kind that honors excellence exclusively among marketing and public relations professionals at two-year colleges. The Educational Advertising Awards is the largest educational advertising awards competition in the country. More than 2,000 entries were received from more than 1,000 colleges, universities, and secondary schools from all 50 states and several foreign countries this past year.

“These national recognitions further validate the marketing and communications team’s outstanding work on behalf of ECC,” said David Sam, PhD, JD, LLM, president of Elgin Community College. “Our team of professionals continues to raise the bar to demonstrate the educational value that ECC offers while also sharing the stories that connect us to the work being done in the classroom and illustrate why ECC is an exceptional and vibrant place to learn and grow. These honors for the ECC marketing and communications department are well deserved.”

NCMPR recognized ECC for its work in Print, Video, Photography/Illustration, and Advertising. ECC placed in the following categories:

Silver: Booklet, Video Shorts-Single, Computer-Generated Illustration, and Radio Ad-Single or Series

Bronze: Poster-Single, Video Shorts-Series: Alex, Sandra, and Travis.

Judges for the Educational Advertising Award consist of a national panel of higher education marketers, advertising creative directors, and marketing and advertising professionals and awarded ECC the following:

Gold: Brochure, Digital Video Ad-Less than two minutes, Digital Video Ad-More than 2 minutes, Publications/External, Radio Advertising-Single, and Special Video

Silver: Annual Report, Outdoor, Publication/External, Television Advertising-Single

Merit: Television Advertising-Single

Also recognized at the NCMPR National Conference was Elissa Kojzarek, communications, and social media manager, who received the National Rising Star Award. This award acknowledges newcomers who have demonstrated special creativity or ability in marketing and public relations and show evidence of a promising future in the field. Kojzarek was recognized as the District 3 Rising Star at the NCMPR District 3 conference held in Grand Rapids, Mich., in the fall of 2021. Each of NCMPR’s seven district winners automatically qualify for consideration for the national award.

“To be recognized with 17 national awards, along with Elissa being named NCMPR’s Rising Star, is a testament to the amazing work accomplished by our talented marketing and communications team,” said Toya Webb, EdD, chief marketing and communications officer who also serves as the NCMPR District 3 Director. What a privilege to lead, support, and work alongside them as they masterfully tell ECC’s story with passion and creativity; we are honored.”

Kojzarek started at ECC in the fall of 2019, bringing more than ten years of non-profit experience to the college. Her passion for promoting student success stories and providing awareness of what ECC offers has increased engagement across all social media channels – even throughout the global pandemic. In addition to managing all of ECC’s social media channels and digital communications across campus, Kojzarek handles internal communications and creates content for the weekly employee newspaper, the Spartan Review, and the online newsroom.