Tennessee Tech communications and marketing team racks up a dozen awards at statewide conference
Tennessee Tech University’s Office of Communications and Marketing picked up a dozen awards, including two first-place finishes, at the 2026 Tennessee College Public Relations Association conference.
The event, which brought together public and private universities and community colleges from across the state, was held last week in Chattanooga. The 2026 awards competition fielded a record-setting 462 entries across 42 categories, representing 20 institutions. Award winners were selected by a 14-judge panel representing leaders in media, public relations and higher education.
Tech’s honors included a gold award in the postcard/invitation category for the university’s invitation to its annual SOAR freshman orientation and a gold award in the social media campaign category for Tech’s “Day in the Life” series highlighting the careers and day-to-day lives of successful Tech alumni.
The SOAR invitation was created by graphic designer Chaseton Earl, while the “Day in the Life” series was created by Jamie Fancher, assistant director for brand communications, and Katie Rumph, social media coordinator. Both projects were overseen by Bailey Phonsnasinh, director of brand communications.
“I’m proud to see our team’s work recognized among peers from across Tennessee higher education,” said Bobbie Maynard, Tech’s associate vice president for communications and marketing. “These awards reflect more than creative projects or campaigns — they represent our commitment to telling Tennessee Tech’s story in meaningful and impactful ways. From highlighting student experiences and celebrating campus milestones to elevating the university’s academic programs, our team approaches every project with care, purpose and a love for this university.”
Maynard, who completed a two-year term as TCPRA president, was also individually recognized with the organization’s Charles Holmes Award — a prestigious honor memorializing an influential founding member of TCPRA and bestowed annually to one member who “demonstrates steadfast service and earnest dedication to the organization.”
Peggy Reiser, TCPRA’s outgoing vice president for awards and recognition and strategic communications manager for the University of Tennessee Health Science Center, presented Maynard with the award, praising her as “a measured, steady and strong presence through two terms as awards chair and two as president.”
Reiser went on to commend Maynard for “leading a strong and dedicated team” while serving as “a kind and thoughtful hand at the helm of this group.”
At the awards ceremony, Tech additionally earned silver awards in the video advertisement category for its 30-second television spot, “Wings Up Means...”; the specialty item category for commemorative t-shirts celebrating the grand opening of Wilmore Way on campus; the special publication category for its campus visitor guide; the low-budget publication category for rack cards promoting majors across campus; and the podcast category for “College Town Talk,” created and hosted in partnership with the Cookeville-Putnam County Convention & Visitors Bureau.
Tech also received bronze awards in the speech/first-person writing category for technical assistance on a 2025 Insight Into Academia op-ed co-written by Tech President Phil Oldham and Cookeville-Putnam County Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Amy New; the special event category for support of Tech’s annual Week of Welcome for new students; and the brochure/flier category for a one-page publication detailing Tech’s majors and concentrations.
Tech’s Department of Computer Science additionally earned a bronze award in the specialty item category for its department-specific challenge coin, created as a commemorative gift for graduating computer science students.
A longtime leader within TCPRA, Tech continues to be represented among the association’s executive committee even as Maynard transitions into the immediate past president role. Denise Colwell, assistant to the vice president for enrollment and communication, serves as sponsor relations lead.
Irene Sullivan, office manager for the Office of Communications and Marketing at Tech, also completed a two-year term as conference planning coordinator.
Formed in 1975, TCPRA is an alliance of communicators representing Tennessee’s colleges and universities, including public and private institutions, two-year technical schools, technology centers and community colleges. Learn more at www.tcpra.org.