By Melissa Vasquez

RIO GRANDE VALLEY – The UTRGV University Marketing and Communications (UMC) Department recently was recognized with numerous honors from the Council for Advancement and Support of Education, Southwest District IV (CASE) and the American Advertising Federation (AAF) - Rio Grande Valley, for their creative talents and efforts in promoting the university. 

UMC received eight 2021 CASE District IV Accolades Awards – two gold, three silver, and three bronze – which showcase the best practices in communications, fundraising, alumni relations, marketing, special events and advancement services across five states. 

In addition, the UMC team won 13 ADDY Awards, for creative excellence at the American Advertising Federation (AAF) - Rio Grande Valley awards competition in March.

“I have been so proud of the ingenuity, teamwork and professionalism demonstrated by the University Marketing and Communications staff during this tumultuous year as we have all had to adjust to a new way of working and living,” said Dr. Janna Arney, UTRGV deputy president. “They have proven that with teamwork and determination anything can be accomplished as demonstrated by these honors. Their winning efforts are a testament to the mission and spirit of our UTRGV family.”  

CASE District IV represents more than 2,900 members from more than 260 institutions in Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas. This year, 50 institutions submitted more than 400 entries. 

UTRGV CASE Award winners include the following: 

GOLD 

• Writing – Feature: It’s More Than Just A Bike 

Awarded to Multimedia Journalist Amanda L. Alaniz, a member of the News and Internal Communications staff, for her follow-up story on manufacturing engineering student Brandon Ramirez, who in December 2018 was featured in a story and video about his bicycle commute each weekday from his home in Matamoros, Tamps., Mexico, to the UTRGV Brownsville Campus. This story was the conclusion – and the beginning – of his journey to a better life. 

LINK: https://www.utrgv.edu/newsroom/2019/12/12-graduating-utrgv-student-reflects-on-his-journey-to-get-an-education-from-across-the-border.htm 

• Writing – General News: UTRGV professor releases children’s mystery book series

Awarded to Informational Writer Victoria Brito Morales, a member of the News and Internal Communications staff, for her story on Dr. David Bowles, UTRGV associate professor of English in the Department of Literatures and Cultural Studies, and his series of children’s mystery books, The series, “13^th Street,” tells the tale of three Latinx youths in South Texas and their mysterious adventures in the otherworldly 13th Street. 

LINK: https://www.utrgv.edu/newsroom/2020/08/05-utrgv-professor-releases-childrens-mystery-book-series.htm 

This photograph, titled "Champions Serve Day," was shot by Photojournalist Paul Chouy and it was awarded a Silver CASE Award in the Individual Photographs category.

SILVER

• Photography – Individual Photographs: Champions Serve Day 

Awarded to Photojournalist Paul Chouy, a member of the News and Internal Communications staff, for his photo that captured a special moment during UTRGV Athletics’ Champions Serve Day in October 2019. This photo was included in social media posts and a video produced by the News and Internal Communications team featuring UTRGV Athletics’ community service projects. 

 LINK: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IFkCEinJMB0&list=PL90zjWmSvEpk2cXe-IOmV4MARr0nddY2p&index=107 

PHOTO: https://www.facebook.com/UTRGVNewsroom/photos/a.534620113966146/534620710632753/ 

• Digital Communications – Social Media: Telemedicine 

This marketing piece helped UT Health RGV introduce Telemedicine to the RGV patient community to provide easy access to advanced care across 11 specialty fields. A landing page was created to build awareness, inform and drive patient acquisition. The goal was to increase patient traffic to telehealth appointments while continuing to deliver on the university’s promise to transform the quality of healthcare in the Valley. 

Working on the project were Crystal Reinhart, marketing manager; Ruben Capuchino, graphic designer; Joe Eguia, web content specialist; Jennifer Galindo, multimedia producer; and Jesica Gonzalez, digital engagement coordinator.  

LINKS:  

Telemedicine: https://uthealthrgv.org/telemedicine/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/UTHealthRGV/ 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uthealthrgv/ 

Twitter: https://twitter.com/UTHealthRGV 

• Digital Communications – Websites (Micro-sites): Student Emergency Fund 
  The UTRGV Student Emergency Fund micro-site asked students the following question: “Need Help Staying Afloat?” The micro-site was a way for UTRGV to let students know the university was there to help them keep their head above water with the Student Emergency Fund, which serves as a temporary monetary solution for students to continue pursuing their long-term academic goals. 

Awarded to Judith Adame, social media marketing manager; David Hovar, internal communications manager; Elisa Flores, marketing director; Karla Castillo, graphic designer manager; Alexandra Mendoza, graphic designer; and Denise Zamora, graphic designer.

LINK: https://link.utrgv.edu/student-emergency-fund/ 

The Unsung Heroes series, produced by Multimedia Journalist Amanda A. Taylor, shines a spotlight on individuals who work behind the scenes at UTRGV, was awarded a Bronze CASE award in the Writing – Series or Collection category.

BRONZE 

• Writing - Series or Collection: Unsung Heroes 

Awarded to Multimedia Journalist Amanda A. Taylor, a member of the News and Internal Communications staff, for the Unsung Heroes series that shines a spotlight on individuals who work at UTRGV behind the scenes – this includes all UTRGV staff. The series shows the community the faces and stories of those who work diligently every day to help make the university work as a whole. 

LINK: https://www.utrgv.edu/umc/news/unsung-heroes/index.htm 

• Writing Feature: The Devil Still Dances 

A collaborative effort by Multimedia Journalists Amanda A. Taylor and Amanda L. Alaniz, members of the News and Internal Communications staff, who wrote this feature story about a memorable folktale said to have taken place in the Valley. The community still remembers the tale and still shares it to this day. UTRGV professors shared their takes on the folktale and why they think it still thrives. They also talk about why folktales exist and why the tales don’t “go away.” 

LINK: https://www.utrgv.edu/newsroom/2019/10/31-the-devil-still-dances.htm 

• Digital Communications – Websites (Institutional): School of Medicine Website 

The UTRGV marketing team launched a more dynamic and user-friendly UTRGV School of Medicine website to reflect the goals of its Education, Research, Patient Care and Community initiatives, and to make it easy for website visitors to find the information they are looking for.

Those who worked on the website included Ben Plantan, chief marketing officer; Roberto Castro, director of creative services; Isabella Inman, senior graphic designer; Ruben Capuchino, graphic designer; Joe Eguia, web content specialist; Norma Rodriguez, public relations coordinator; and Jesus Torres, web developer.

LINK: https://www.utrgv.edu/school-of-medicine/ 

In 2020, UMC earned two gold, two silver and two bronze District IV CASE Accolades Awards for photography and institutional campaigns.

ADDY Awards

The annual ADDY awards competition recognizes creative excellence in local media, including print, broadcast, interactive, out of home and public service. The ADDYs is the advertising industry’s largest and most representative competition, attracting more than 40,000 entries every year in local AAF Club competitions.

Winners of the 2020-2021 American Advertising Federation (AAF) Rio Grande Valley American Advertising Awards include the following:

SILVER

Elements of Advertising (Visual-Still Photography-Color, Single) – Alegria 2020

• Paul Chouy, photojournalist

Elements of Advertising (Visual-Still Photography-Color, Single)  – Lighting the Letters

• David Pike, senior photojournalist

Film, Video & Sound (Television Self Promotion/Local-Single Spot-Any Length) –

UT Health RGV – Your Safety Comes First

• Ben Plantan, chief marketing officer
• Crystal Reinhart, marketing manager
• Ruben Capuchino, graphic designer
• Joe Eguia, web content specialist
• Jennifer Galindo, multimedia producer

Film, Video & Sound (Television Self Promotion/Local-Single Spot-Any Length) – UTHealth RGV – Our Heroes Commercial

• Ben Plantan, chief marketing officer
• Crystal Reinhart, marketing manager
• Ruben Capuchino, graphic designer
• Joe Eguia, web content specialist
• Jennifer Galindo, multimedia producer

Film, Video & Sound (Television Self Promotion/Local-Single Spot-Any Length) –  UTRGV – The Valley's University

• Ben Plantan, chief marketing officer
• Victoria Villela-Gomez, marketing manager
• Danny Cardenas, senior graphics designer
• Erick Morales, digital engagement coordinator
• Nate Garcia, digital marketing manager

Cross-Platform (Online/Interactive Campaign) – Best Week Ever

• Karen Dorado, director of special projects and community relations
• Karla Castillo, graphic designer manager
• Alexandra Mendoza, graphic designer
• Juan Ramirez, multimedia producer
• Jennifer Galindo, multimedia producer
• Job Benavidez, web developer
• Nate Garcia, digital marketing manager
• Judith Adame, social media marketing manager
• Denise Zamora, graphic designer
• Sabrina Torres, graphic designer
• Derick Somoso, graphic designer
• Frida Retana, graphic designer

Online-Interactive (Websites-Consumer) – UT Health Telemedicine

• Ruben Capuchino, graphic designer
• Crystal Reinhart, marketing manager
• Jesica Gonzalez, digital engagement coordinator
• Joe Eguia, web content specialist
• Jennifer Galindo, multimedia producer

Online-Interactive (Apps, Games and Virtual Reality)– UTRGV Campus Blinking Run

• Alexandra Mendoza, graphic designer

The UTRGV 5th Year Anniversary Campaign earned a Bronze Addy in the category of Cross-Platform (Online/Interactive Campaign).

BRONZE

Print Advertising (Magazine Advertising Campaign)– UT Health Rio Grande Valley

• Ruben Capuchino, graphic designer
• Crystal Reinhart, marketing manager
• Joe Eguia, web content specialist
• Jennifer Galindo, multimedia producer

Cross-Platform (Online/Interactive Campaign) – UTRGV COVID Prevention Tips

• Crystal Reinhart, marketing manager
• Victoria Villela-Gomez, marketing manager
• Ruben Capuchino, graphic designer
• Alexandra Mendoza, graphic designer
• Jesica Gonzalez, Digital Engagement Coordinator
• Joe Eguia, web content specialist

Cross-Platform (Online/Interactive Campaign) – 5th Year Anniversary Campaign

• Elisa Flores, marketing director
• Karla Castillo, graphic designer manager
• Judith Adame, social media marketing manager
• Nate Garcia, digital marketing manager
• David Hovar, internal communications manager
• Irene Wazgowska, web content specialist
• Jesus Torres, web developer
• Jennifer Galindo, multimedia producer
• Victoria Brito Morales, informational writer
• Frida Retana, graphic designer

Public Service (Corporate Social Responsibility Film, Video & Sound) – Sustainability: Think Globally, Act Locally

• Marcia Caltabiano-Ponce, director, News and Internal Communications, project director
• Letty Fernandez, media relations liaison, producer
• David Pike, senior photojournalist, production team
• Ricardo Camargo, multimedia producer, production team
• Maria Elena Hernandez, multimedia journalist, production team

Film, Video & Sound (Television Self Promotion/Local-Single Spot-Any Length) – Dear Vaqueros

• Ben Plantan, chief marketing officer
• Nate Garcia, digital marketing manager
• Erick Morales, digital engagement coordinator
• David Hovar, internal communications manager

In 2019, the UMC team also earned a Chancellor’s Excellence Award, which recognizes exceptional performance and best practices in key areas of development, advancement services, events, communications and media relations. The team was awarded in the category of Excellence in Communications for the “Online Graduate Recruitment Takeover.”

In addition, the department also won several Healthcare Advertising Awards in 2020 including a gold for the UT Health RGV logo design and a silver for the UT Health RGV website.

To learn more about the services offered by UMC, visit www.utrgv.edu/umc.