News & Events

UNC Asheville communication initiatives garner awards

November 1, 2010

UNC Asheville's redesigned Web site, http://unca.edu/, recently earned the first-ever "Best of the Mountains" award for Web sites from the Public Relations Association of Western North Carolina (PRAWNC). PRAWNC also gave UNC Asheville its awards for best public relations campaign for its student recruitment materials, and best public relations writing for a press release about a professor’s history of NASCAR. The "Best of the Mountains" awards were announced at an annual dinner in October.

The effort to update UNC Asheville’s Web presence began last year and included the redesign and restructuring of the home page and roughly 100 secondary pages. That work is continuing, with staff rolling out newly revamped Web pages for academic departments and programs each week.

One PRAWNC judge commented, "very professional but not formal or stuffy… Simple clarity is underrated in Web site design – this one is a good example of how effective it can be!" UNC Asheville shared Web site top honors with Synergy Point, which also received a "Best of the Mountains" award.

In the category of public relations campaign, PRAWN cited UNC Asheville’s admissions materials. Judges said the campaign, which included print publications, e-mail blasts, Web communications and events, was "very strong," and "thoughtful." Wrote one judge, " You tell it and show it how it is, not inflated, not over done. It is a sincere effort…"

For the fourth straight year, Jill Yarnall, UNC Asheville University writer and editor, won the "Best of the Mountains" award for public relations writing. The winning submission was her news release about Professor Dan Pierce's history of NASCAR, which has continued to generate news stories and interviews six months later. PRAWNC judges noted that the release "helped consolidate an important part of our culture and added something to our rich history." The press release is available at the UNC Asheville Web site.