Communicators from across campus gathered April 12 for the ninth annual #RedbirdProud Social Media Awards and Workshop. University Marketing and Communications (UMC) held the event in the Bone Student Center’s Old Main Room to recognize the best uses of social media on campus and to offer faculty, staff, and students engaged in communications and marketing a professional development opportunity.
Check out this year’s winners below:
#RedbirdProud Social Media Awards
Outstanding Student Social Media Manager
Winner: Edcel Cintron Gonzalez
Graduate student Edcel Cintron Gonzalez was honored for his role in managing the Department of English’s social media accounts. “He has been working on building social media visibility for the Department of English since November 2022,” a nominator stated. “His work is to bring visibility to all the different research, activities, and work faculty, staff, students, and graduate students bring to the department while also creating content representative of the everyday lifestyle of students of the English Department. Edcel’s next project will be to launch a reading series and podcasts on our upcoming English Department Youtube channel and help create resources for the upcoming podcasting lab.”
Best New/Most Improved Social Media
Winner: Event Management, Dining, and Hospitality
Event Management, Dining, and Hospitality was highlighted for its Instagram account. “The success of EMDH’s Instagram account is due in large part to social media interns Angelina Ruiz and Madelyn Isham,” one nominator stated. “These two students have played an integral role in managing the day-to-day content of our social media accounts, but specifically putting the work into growing and maintaining our audience on Instagram. Their teamwork has been a large factor to their success. The way they collaborate, brainstorm, and support each other’s ideas has been key to coming up with fresh content, consistent promotion and follow-up of events, and ensuring EMDH is reaching our student audience in an authentic way.”
Honorable Mention: TechZone
TechZone was recognized for reviving its Instagram account. “We introduced several recurring series—product promos on Wednesday and student features on Fridays—along with monthly giveaways to promote engagement and growth,” a nominator stated. “Working to fill the feed with appealing high-resolution images and faces of actual students.”
Most Innovative Use of Social Media
Winner: Alumni Engagement and Trademark Licensing
Alumni Engagement and Trademark Licensing were highlighted for their collaboration with a “Get Ready with Me” series on Instagram Reels that celebrates campus events and traditions year-round. “This collaboration has allowed both departments to connect with students, alumni, and faculty/staff, while also showcasing the campus community and University events,” a nominator stated.
Best Overall Use of Social Media
Winner: Graduate School
The Graduate School won the top social media award for its all-around excellence on multiple platforms. “The Graduate School has been working tirelessly on making sure our social media platforms fit our large target audience of graduate students,” a nominator stated. “We have to make sure that we are sharing media that shows and celebrates the diverse group of graduate students we have on campus.”
Honorable Mention: Mennonite College of Nursing
Mennonite College of Nursing was recognized for its work in highlighting students and alumni on social media. “We have utilized our social media to highlight individuals and experiences that are positively impacting the education of our Redbird Nurses, as well as individuals we are proud to call MCN alumni,” a nominator stated.
Honorable Mention: School of Communication
The School of Communication (SoC) was honored for its work across all platforms. “In September 2022, we launched a new TikTok account and built a team of student interns to help create content,” a nominator stated. “The School of Communication has also utilized our social media platforms to again garner tremendous success with Birds Give Back. We are #RedbirdProud of our growth and ability to help our students thrive and succeed through our social platforms.”
Social Media Workshop
The social media workshop followed the awards ceremony. The keynote speaker was Redbird alum Jason Gryniewicz ’15, owner of the hugely popular YouTube channel Daily Dose of Internet, who participated in a Q&A about growing his channel and social media in general.
Gryniewicz was followed by roundtables facilitated by UMC head copywriter and State magazine Editor-in-Chief Matt Wing; UMC graphic designer Sean Thornton ’00, M.S. ’17 ’22; and UMC social media coordinator Julie Mana-ay Perez and Alumni Engagement communications graduate assistant Emily Deppermann ’20.
The workshop continued with UMC coordinator for online and print publications John Twork, M.S. ’12, who presented “Extra! Extra! Brand Journalism Covers the University.”
UMC Assistant Director for Trademark Licensing and Project Communications Dani Schroeder, M.S. ’14, and Office of Alumni Engagement Director Rachel Kobus ’09, M.S. ’11 presented “All the Buzz: Podcasting Tips for Beginners.”
The event concluded with a panel discussion facilitated by Kevin Bersett, MBA ’17, UMC associate director for strategic communications, and featuring UMC interns Micah Sewell, Dani Hartmann, and Leela Wolgemuth.
Missed this year’s awards or want to review one of the presentations? Watch this year’s #RedbirdProud Social Media Awards:
