School of Communication Students Earn Top Awards

UNO students, faculty and alumni recently made history at the 2020 PRSA Nebraska Paper Anvil Awards, which recognized the best in public relations, marketing and advertising from across the state in the past year.

Collectively, UNO students from the School of Communication earned a record-breaking 17 awards, including three awards competing against professional firms. Impressively, the awards were distributed across both student groups like UNO's Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) chapter, UNO's student-run agency MaverickPR, the UNO Ad Club and seniors from the School of Communications Capstone course.

UNO PRSSA also won the top award in the Student category for their "Talk, Not Talking Points" campaign to advocate for diversity and inclusion. The same campaign earned an honorable mention at the national PRSSA awards last year.

"The students in PRSSA and MaverickPR have earned national and state recognition because they are so dedicated to enhancing their skills and helping the campus and community through their work,” said Karen Weber, PRSSA and MaverickPR faculty adviser. “Through the years, these students have exceeded my expectations and made be incredibly proud.”

Weber, who also serves as a lecturer for the School of Communication, was also recognized, earning the "Special Achievement in PR" Award for her years of service to the industry.

“I’m humbled and deeply appreciative of this award and its recognition of the work I truly love—working with motivated and talented students," Weber said. "I continue to learn so much from them.”

UNO alumni were also highlighted throughout the evening. Brittney Ryba, a 2004 graduate and current graduate student, was recognized with the "Nebraska Chapter Service" award and LeAnne Morman, a 2006 graduate and longtime news editor, was recognized with Nebraska PRSA's "Newcomer of the Year" award.

Dozens of other UNO alumni were also recognized through their work as members of successful local and regional public relations and marketing agencies.

"I am very proud of the continued excellent work that is being produced not only by our students, but our extremely talented alumni as well,” Hugh Reilly, director of the School of Communication, said. “It is a testament to the hard work, passion, and dedication of our faculty, who have helped guide these current and future professionals as they become leaders in their fields.”

A full list of awards earned by UNO students and faculty are included below.

The full list of recipients for the 2020 Nebraska PRSA Paper Anvil Awards can be found on the Nebraska PRSA website.

In the Professional Division:

Publications Category

Award of Excellence
CommUNO 2019
UNO School of Communication, PR & Advertising Capstone Students

Videos Category

Award of Excellence
Comfort Food Classic - Chef Heighl Feature
MaverickPR, Grief's Journey

Website Category

Award of Excellence
MaverickPR

In the Student Division:

Best of Show
"Talk, Not Talking Points"
UNO PRSSA

Outstanding Campus Event Category

Award of Excellence
Best and Worst of the Super Bowl Commercials Panel
UNO Ad Club

Award of Excellence (and top in the category)
Pet a Pup
UNO PRSSA, Grief's Journey

Outstanding Classroom Campaigns

Award of Excellence (and top in the category)
"Talk, Not Talking Points"
UNO PRSSA, PRSA Foundation

Outstanding Community or Nonprofit Event

Award of Excellence
Santa Paws
UNO PRSSA

Outstanding Media Relations Campaign for Nonprofits

Award of Excellence
Genius of Warren Buffett Media Relations Campaign
MaverickPR

Award of Excellence (and top in the category)
Pet a Pup
UNO PRSSA, Grief's Journey

Outstanding Newsletter

Award of Excellence (and top in the category)
CommUNO 2019
UNO School of Communication, PR and Advertising Capstone

Award of Merit
UNO PRSSA Fall 2019 Newsletter
UNO PRSSA

Outstanding PRSSA Chapter Project

Award of Merit
La Notte Italiana
UNO PRSSA

Outstanding Social Media/Electronic Media Outreach Campaign Category

Award of Excellence (and top in category)
Comfort food Classic Social Media Campaign
MaverickPR/ Grief's Journey

Award of Excellence (and top in category)
Genius of Warren Buffett Social Media Campaign
MaverickPR

Outstanding Strategy to Address a Problem Category

Award of Excellence (and top in category)
"Talk, Not Talking Points"
UNO PRSSA

Outstanding Video Category

Award of Excellence (and top in category)
Comfort Food Classic - Chef Solberg Feature
MaverickPR, Grief's Journey