Spectrum - Volume 18 Issue 03 September 7, 1995 - PR women take top awards

A non-profit publication of the Office of the University Relations of Virginia Tech,
including The Conductor , a special section of the Spectrum printed 4 times a year

PR women take top awards

Spectrum Volume 18 Issue 03 - September 7, 1995

Three Virginia Tech public-relations women have taken five awards, including two first-place awards, in the national communications competition sponsored by the National Federation of Press Women (NFPW).

Lynn Nystrom, director of news and external relations for the College of Engineering, placed first with a brochure on the Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering and second for her work as faculty advisor to the Collegiate Times, the university's student newspaper.

Nystrom edited the brochure and served as the designer with Dave Simpkins, graphic designer. Photographs used in the piece were taken by Rick Griffiths and Bob Veltri, both photographers in the Visual Communications division of University Relations.

Nystrom has been faculty advisor to the Collegiate Times since 1978. Last year, she won the university's Advisor of the Year award, in part for her work with the student newspaper.

Clara B. Cox, manager of public service communications in University Relations, received first place for editing Virginia Issues & Answers. The magazine staff also includes Larry Hincker, executive editor; Meg Nugent, art director; Veltri, photography editor; and Harry W. Yeatts Jr., assistant editor. The magazine is published semi-annually for state and local policymakers, educators, and economic developers by University Relations in cooperation with the university's outreach and public service programs.

Sally Harris, public relations coordinator in University Relations for the College of Arts and Sciences, took two third-place awards, one for a black-and-white feature photo she took of Tech chemistry professor James Wightman reenacting Benjamin Franklin's 1760 demonstration of surface chemistry by pouring vegetable oil on water. The photo was published in the college's newsletter.

Harris's other award was for three news releases on the same topic: a series of holiday releases featuring Jeff Mann, an English instructor, and William Snizek, alumni distinguished professor of sociology. The releases were published in local newspapers throughout the state.

Only first-place award winners in state affiliate contests were entered in the national competition. The competition consists of 91 major categories, which are further divided into subcategories. Winning entries were displayed at NFPW's annual conference, held this summer in Jackson, Miss.

The National Federation of Press Women is an organization of working women and men journalists in all fields of communications, including newspapers, public relations, advertising, radio, television, photography, book publishing, and education.