Touro Honored with Public Relations Awards for COVID-19 Social Media Video Campaign and Alumni/ae Magazine
Touro University Nevada took home two awards during the Public Relations Society of America’s (PRSA) Las Vegas Valley Chapter Pinnacle Awards ceremony on Nov. 4.
The university’s COVID-19 social media video campaign won a Pinnacle Award, the highest possible award given during the event. Touro’s new alumni/ae magazine, ‘Beyond’, was given an Award of Excellence, the second-highest possible award for the evening.
“I am thrilled that our COVID-19 video campaign and alumni/ae magazine were both recognized during this year’s Pinnacle Awards,” said Dena Potestio, Vice President for Advancement. “Both of these initiatives showed the Southern Nevada community how much work Touro University Nevada is doing to keep our communities safe and healthy during this pandemic.”
Touro’s COVID-19 vaccine video campaign, which received the prized Pinnacle Award, featured several testimonials from students, faculty, and staff discussing why they got their COVID vaccine and encouraging others to do the same.
After two months of weekly COVID-19 vaccine videos, Touro gained nearly 200 Instagram followers and 200 Facebook likes. The campaign collectively garnered nearly 6,500 views across social media.
“We wanted the faces of Touro University Nevada to be front and center for this campaign, and I am so glad the judges understood the importance of what we were doing,” said Steven Slivka, Assistant Director of Communications & Public Relations. “If only one person chose to get vaccinated after watching our videos, then what we did was successful. I am so thankful to our students, faculty, and staff for leading the way as we continue to work together to get everyone vaccinated.”
One of the judges lauded the strategy as an ‘excellent overall campaign’ and complimented the university for utilizing its campus community to get more people vaccinated.
‘Beyond,’ the university’s alumni/ae magazine which debuted over the Summer, featured alumni/ae profiles, current news stories from campus, and a two-page photo collage of Touro alumni/ae representing 11 states working on the COVID-19 frontlines. The judges awarded it with an Award of Excellence.
“Beyond was created as a platform to tell alumni/ae stories. Our incredible alumni/ae were involved in the creation of this magazine every step of the way to ensure the content was both meaningful and valuable,” said Veronica Fischer, Director of Donor Engagement & Alumni/ae Relations. “Our alumni/ae are incredible professionals, working tirelessly in their communities to drive positive change and have a significant impact in healthcare. We wanted to use Beyond as a place to really showcase their successes and give them a chance to reconnect with both the university and each other.”
The magazine’s first issue was sent to more than 4,000 Touro alumni/ae across the country, with a second issue slated for December.
This is the fourth-consecutive year that Touro has been recognized during the Pinnacle Awards, including the last three years with at least one Pinnacle Award.
