SouthArk marketing department wins national awards

The marketing and communications department at South Arkansas College has received top prize in four different categories in the 39th Annual Educational Advertising Awards.

The national competition seeks to recognize outstanding work in the marketing of schools and educational services. The 39th contest recognized winners in 54 different categories subdivided into groups based on institution size, with designations for Gold, Silver, Bronze and Merit.

SouthArk competed against other two-year institutions with enrollment of fewer than 2,500 students.

The college’s 2023-2024 viewbook, a printed publication that promotes the college to credit-seeking students, received Gold for Student Viewbooks. The publication was photographed, written and designed by SouthArk marketing director Heath Waldrop.

A multi-colored T-shirt design with the “We Shine” theme was selected as a Gold winner in the Miscellaneous Collateral Special Promo category. It was designed by Waldrop.

The commercial “Be a Star,” which featured students dancing to an original song by website administrator Charley Hankins, won a Gold award in the category of Digital Video Ad Less Than Two Minutes. It was produced, directed, photographed and edited by Waldrop.

The YouTube video “Constellation Conversation,” featuring interviews with members of the men’s basketball team, won Gold in the category of Special Video. It was produced, directed, photographed and edited by Waldrop.

More than 2,000 entries were received from more than 1,000 educational entities and institutions.

Judges came from a national panel of education marketers, advertising creative directors and other professionals in the field.