Palm Beach State College has won a Gold Medallion Award, along with two silver and three bronze awards, from the National Council for Marketing and Public Relations (NCMPR) District II for work produced between July 1, 2025, and June 30, 2026, by the Office of Communications and Public Affairs (OCPA) department.

The annual regional awards recognize outstanding achievement in communications at community and technical colleges in 11 Southeastern states, Bermuda, the British Virgin Islands and the Bahamas.

This year, there were more than 400 submissions in 48 categories. Of the entries, only 32 first-place gold medallions were awarded.

“I’m so proud of our OCPA team for bringing home an NCMPR Gold Medallion Award for the second year in a row, along with Silver and Bronze Awards,” said Chief Communications and Public Affairs Officer Angela Harrington. “Earning Gold for PBSC Today after publishing just two editions is especially meaningful. Our team puts so much creativity and care into amplifying the stories of our students, faculty and staff, and it’s wonderful to see that work recognized. Thank you to NCMPR for hosting the awards and to the judges who volunteer their time and expertise to recognize outstanding work across our profession.”

The winning categories and pieces are:

Gold

Small-scale newsletter: PBSC Today

PBSC Today is PBSC’s flagship publication highlighting student success, innovation, workforce development and community impact across Palm Beach County. The newsletter is a print publication that is distributed through mail, the Sunday edition of The Palm Beach Post, via subscription and newsstands, and is available at each of the five PBSC campuses.

The publication was produced by the following OCPA members: Chief Communications and Public Affairs Office and Executive Editor Angela Harrington; Communications Director and Managing Editor Kerry Capell; Writers Kristi Sorrow and Lakshmi Gomez; Photographers Carol McDonald, Sergio Pimentel and Jillian Craig; Design Director Kari McCormick, Graphic Designers Kara Bailey, Sergio Pimentel and Gabriel Ortolaza; Marketing Director Brian Resser; Digital Media Manager Caroline Sheikhnia; Digital Media Coordinators Julie Somera and Jillian Craig; Web Content Specialist Cara Masset; Video and Multimedia Manager Ricardo Reyes and Video Producers Zelmira K. Silva Santisteban and Michael Migliore.

Silver

Long Form Writing:  “Palm Beach State College honors graduate Shaveeshka DuMornay, who earns bachelor’s degree while courageously battling ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease)”

The article highlights PBSC graduate Shaveeshka DuMornay, a mother of three who earned her bachelor’s degree while battling ALS, demonstrating resilience and determination in the face of a life-altering diagnosis. It emphasizes her perseverance, family support, and belief in education as a source of purpose and hope, while also raising awareness about ALS.

The article was written by Chief Communications and Public Affairs Officer Angela Harrington.

Online Marketing Campaign: PBSC’s Men’s Basketball 

The campaign was a multi-platform digital marketing campaign designed to elevate the visibility of the nationally ranked Men's Basketball program through student-athlete storytelling, short-form video and timely athletics content. Running from November 26, 2025 through March 19, 2026, the campaign leveraged Instagram Reels, YouTube Shorts and social media posts across Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, X and YouTube to celebrate athletic achievements, showcase campus spirit and engage audiences beyond the College's existing followers. The campaign positioned athletics as a powerful took for institutional storytelling, student recruitment and brand awareness.

The campaign was produced by Digital Media Coordinators Julie Somera and Jillian Craig, along with Digital Media Manager Caroline Sheikhnia.

Bronze

Single Poster
The poster highlighted mental health awareness and combined original photography, strong visual hierarchy, and college branding to highlight the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline and campus counseling services.

The poster was designed by Graphic Designer Sergia Pimentel.

Social Media Story-Video: Spring 2026 #PBSCgrad: Younger You

This short-form social media video celebrates our graduating class through a simple, emotionally resonant visual. Each graduate featured begins by holding a childhood photo in front of the camera before revealing themselves in graduation regalia, creating a seamless transition from their younger self to the person they have become. Set to Miley Cyrus’ “Younger You” and captioned, A message to the #YoungerYou: You did it!,“ the reel highlights the transformative power of education while inviting viewers to reflect on their own journeys.

The video was produced by Digital Media Coordinator Julie Somera.

Video Shorts Series: PBSC & Me: Student Services

The series is a two-part short-form video series designed to answer the most common questions prospective and newly admitted students have about navigating Palm Beach State College. Featuring subject matter experts from Financial Aid and Admissions and the Registrar, each video delivers three practical, high-impact tips in under two minutes using a conversational, social-first format. The series transforms complex enrollment processes into clear, accessible guidance that students can quickly consume on YouTube Shorts and other digital platforms, helping reduce confusion and encourage timely action during the enrollment journey.

The series was produced by Digital Media Coordinator Julie Somera.

Last year, PBSC won a Gold Medallion for its second Emerald Torch Awards Gala Campaign. The awards were presented during the District II Conference held in Nashville September 30 through October 2, 2026. They were judged by panels of industry professionals. NCMPR is an affiliate council of the American Association of Community Colleges. Visit www.ncmpr.org to learn more.