Lake Michigan College Marketing & Communications Team Wins Four Awards at National Conference

Benton Harbor, MI – The Marketing & Communications team at Lake Michigan College has been recognized with four awards at the 2025 National Council for Marketing & Public Relations (NCMPR) District 3 conference in Indianapolis, Indiana. The team received three silver awards and one gold award for excellence in communications and marketing.

"These awards reflect our team's dedication to telling meaningful stories that resonate with our community," said Jennifer Shoemaker, Executive Director of Marketing and Communications at Lake Michigan College. "Whether we're celebrating 50 years of women's athletics, sharing a student's transformative journey, or revealing the person behind our beloved mascot, our goal is always to showcase the heart of Lake Michigan College and the incredible people who make this institution special."

GOLD AWARD – Short Form Writing

The team earned top honors for the press release "Outstanding Musician of the Year Finds Musical Renaissance at Lake Michigan College," distributed June 2, 2025. The piece tells the inspiring story of Marcia Blake, recipient of the Visual & Performing Arts Department's Outstanding Musician of the Year award, who transformed from a retired optometrist grieving her husband's death to an honor student rediscovering her musical passion. The narrative-style release demonstrates how Lake Michigan College serves as a community cornerstone where students of all ages can find healing, self-discovery, and purpose during life's transitions.

SILVER AWARD – Logo Design

The commemorative "50 Years of Lake Michigan College Women's Intercollegiate Athletics Logo" was recognized for its bold design celebrating five decades of women's sports during the 2024-2025 academic year. The circular design features integrated typography with an arrow flowing through the "50," symbolizing progress and forward momentum while maintaining strong brand consistency with LMC's signature red and black colors. The logo was used throughout the academic year on historic photographs, banners, signage, social media platforms, and print publications.

SILVER AWARD – Campaign Wild Card

The comprehensive "50 Years of Lake Michigan College Women's Intercollegiate Athletics" campaign honored five decades of athletic excellence through strategic historical storytelling, community engagement, and legacy preservation. Campaign highlights included a naming dedication ceremony for the Liz Miller Athletic Office Suite, a cover story in Lake Michigan College Current magazine reaching 100,000 households, 17 social media posts generating over 161,000 impressions, campus light pole banners, and coordinated media outreach. The campaign successfully reunited over 100 program pioneers and preserved more than 300 historic photographs for future generations.

SILVER AWARD – Social Media Post

The team was honored for a mascot reveal video posted in May 2025 that introduced Blake, the 2025 graduate who brought Rocky the Red Hawk to life for two years. The carefully orchestrated reveal, teased in advance of commencement, generated significant engagement across multiple platforms with 61,291 impressions, 59,519 video views, and a 3.6% engagement rate, showcasing student involvement in campus life and extracurricular activities.

The NCMPR District 3 conference brings together marketing and communications professionals from community and technical colleges across the Midwest to celebrate excellence in collegiate marketing and public relations.

About Lake Michigan College

LMC is the region’s leader in high quality, affordable higher education, offering associate degrees, certificates, and transfer programs in more than 80 fields of study. LMC offers national-title-winning intercollegiate athletic teams, on-campus housing, and a wealth of extracurricular activities, clubs, and organizations to create an authentic college experience close to home. For more information, visit lakemichigancollege.edu.