Wallace State Community College in Hanceville received a Gold Medal Paragon Award from the National Council for Marketing & Public Relations (NCMPR) at the council’s national conference held recently in New Orleans. The award celebrates the college’s marketing team for its outstanding execution of marketing design and messaging.

The 2024-25 Paragon Awards competition drew 1,570 entries from colleges across North America. Only 47 gold medal awards were given.

Wallace State was the only community college in Alabama to win a gold medal.

“Our members are doing the important work of ensuring both prospective and current students know of the potentially life-changing opportunities available at their institutions,” said Virginia Moreland, NCMPR’s 2024-25 president. “The winning entries demonstrated the incredible creativity, commitment and resourcefulness of community college marketing professionals throughout our organization, and we are so proud to recognize them with the Paragon Awards.”

NCMPR’s Paragon Awards recognize outstanding achievement in design, strategy and communication at community and technical colleges. It’s the only national competition of its kind that honors excellence exclusively among marketing and public relations professionals at two-year colleges.

Wallace State’s Communications and Marketing team wrapped up the 2024-2025 awards season with more than a dozen awards presented by NCMPR and the Alabama Community College System Public Relations Association (ACCSPRA).

Wallace State was also Alabama’s most decorated community college at NCMPR’s District 2 Medallion Awards Ceremony, where the college won three gold medals and one bronze medal. NCMPR District 2 consists of the community colleges in 13 southeastern states and two U.S. territories.

The team received a variety of Pyramid Awards in the ACCSPRA statewide competition, including recognition for social media, news writing, photography, student success stories, digital media, posters, logowear and podcast.

Members of the Wallace State Community College Communications and Marketing team include Kristen Holmes, Gail Crutchfield, Jesse Cobb, Elle Hensley and Elizabeth McAfee.

Wallace State is celebrating Community College Month in April. Visit wallacestate.edu or connect with the college on social media to learn more about upcoming events and activities.