UW staff members received awards in the Wyoming Press Association Associates’ contest
last weekend in Cheyenne. UWyo Magazine, edited by Micaela Myers, from UW Institutional
Marketing, placed first in the publications category. A release featuring UW music
Associate Professor Nicole Lamartine, right, won first place in the single news release
category for UW Institutional Communications Specialist Milton Ontiveroz. (UW Photos)
University of Wyoming Institutional Communications and Marketing specialists, and
other UW personnel received awards during the Jan. 17-19 Wyoming Press Association
(WPA) Associates’ group annual contest.
Winners were announced at the WPA’s annual winter meeting in Cheyenne. The convention
attracts Wyoming’s newspaper professionals and the WPA’s Associate members for two
days of workshops, seminars and speakers.
About 200 WPA and Associate members attended the convention, which culminated with
the awards banquet where the top newspapers in three divisions (daily, Casper Star-Tribune;
large weekly, Jackson Hole News and Guide; and small weekly, Lovell Chronicle) were
named. Individual award winners also were announced in several categories.
In the Associates’ contest, UW Institutional Communications Specialists Milton Ontiveroz
and Ron Podell won two first-place awards and two second-place awards, respectively.
UW Institutional Marketing staff members Michelle Eberle, Micaela Myers and Kyle Spradley
combined to win first-, second- and third-place awards.
Four UW students -- Jenny Perez-Bermudez, Elizabeth Chambers, Kaitamaria Pounda and
Morgan Smith -- collected two first-place awards and a third-place award.
Wyoming State Geological Survey outreach and publications Manager Christina George
was awarded a second-place award.
This year’s contest drew a high number of entries from communications specialists
from around the state. UW personnel competed against media representatives such as
those from the Wyoming Game and Fish Department, Wyoming Department of Transportation,
Wyoming Military Department, Secretary of State’s Office, Wyoming Business Council
and area public relations firms.
“Our staff members work hard to tell UW’s story across Wyoming and beyond, and it
is great seeing them recognized for their quality work,” says Chad Baldwin, UW’s associate
vice president for communications and marketing. “We appreciate the cooperation of
the campus community in spreading the good word about the university.”
Ontiveroz again was selected as the Associate members’ liaison, representing the Associates
on the WPA board. He is only the second person to hold that position in the association’s
26-year history.
WPA Associate members, including those from UW, attended three workshops last Friday;
participated in a roundtable discussion on media relations strategies; and held their
annual Associates’ meeting. Two of the workshop presenters were Baldwin and Jenny
Petty, UW director of enrollment marketing, who discussed the making of “The World
Needs More Cowboys” campaign with Associate members.
UW President Laurie Nichols attended a WPA reception with members from the WPA and
Associates group, and also 24 UW students who participated in the conference as part
of their J Term class in community journalism. Nichols also opened the WPA Friday
night dinner with welcoming remarks, marking only the second time a UW president has
addressed the newspaper association’s members.
Listed are the UW staff members and students with their individual awards; contest
categories in which they won; titles of their entries; and what the judges had to
say about their work (where provided):
UW Institutional Communications:
-- Ontiveroz, first place, One News Release, “Artistic Experience Inspired by Human
Anatomical Exploration Topic of UW Professor’s Talk,” and “Great job capturing interest.
Held attention throughout the release and likely reached desired audience.”
-- Ontiveroz, first place, Three Features on One Topic, “UW Recruiting Efforts.”
-- Podell, second place, One Feature, “Eight UW Students to Test Themselves in Gannett
Peak Excursion Course.”
-- Podell, second place, Three Features on One Topic, “Science Initiative Outreach.”
UW Institutional Marketing:
-- Eberle/Spradley, second place, Photo Page or Story, “The Big Picture,” and “Beautiful
composition. A fish on the line or the action of a cast would have taken it to first
place.”
-- Eberle, third place, Page Layout and Design, “Adventure Abounds,” and “Great photos
that definitely highlight the variety of recreational activities available near UW
campus.”
-- Myers, first place, Publications, “UWyo Magazine,” and “This publication stood
head and shoulders above the rest in a category with a lot of great entries. Congrats
on such a great piece that checked all the boxes that make this a quality publication.”
UW Student Media:
-- Chambers/Pounda, first place, Op-Ed Writing, and “Well researched and well written.”
-- Perez-Bermudez, first place, Advertising Internally Developed, “Toyota,” and “Absolutely
amazing in every way!”
-- Smith, second place, Photo Page or Story, “Game Day,” and “Nice overall telling
of opening day is captured here. I wish the action shots were a bit tighter.”
Wyoming State Geological Survey:
-- George, second place, One News Release, “Rare Mammal Fossil Discovered in Wyoming,”
and “Interesting with broad appeal. Well written.”
