A&S communications team brings home top honors from SPRF

A&S communications team brings home top honors from SPRF

A photo of 3 Lantern Awards

Mississippi State’s College of Arts and Sciences communication team came home from the Southern Public Relations Federation (SPRF) Annual Conference with new hardware and top honors.

The team earned two Lantern Awards and an Award of Merit at this year’s conference in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, recognizing everything from its Vision magazine to student recruitment branding and a popular cookie event for research week.

Representing the communication division of the dean’s office were Karyn Brown, assistant dean of communication and media; Kelli Anthony, graphics and web designer; Sam Kealhofer, coordinator for communication and research support; and Sarah Nicholas, communication specialist.

“To have that work recognized by our peers is incredibly rewarding. These awards are a wonderful validation of the creativity, collaboration and sheer hard work this team brings to the table every day,” said Brown, who was inducted into the PRSA College of Fellows in 2026 and holds the Accredited in Public Relations (APR) credential.

The annual Lantern Awards recognize outstanding work by public relations professionals across the region, with entries judged for creativity, innovation, strategy and results.

A&S brought home a Lantern Award in the “Tactical Materials/Projects” category for the 2025 edition of Vision magazine. The publication showcased the college’s people, programs and research through a mix of storytelling, photography and design. Heather Rowe, a digital designer editor with MSU’s Office of Public Affairs, also was part of the winning Vision magazine team.

The team also earned a Lantern Award in the “Long Term Strategic Projects” category for its 2025 academic year student recruitment branding and orientation campaign, which helped create a more welcoming and memorable orientation experience.

A&S also earned an Award of Merit in the “Short Term Strategic Projects: Special Events” category for the Cookie Crawl, an event designed to highlight the college’s breadth of research work, along with sweet treats for participants.

Founded in 1972, the Southern Public Relations Federation connects public relations professionals across Alabama, North Florida, Louisiana and Mississippi, fostering collaboration and professional growth among communication professionals in corporate, agency and nonprofit settings.

For more information about MSU’s College of Arts and Sciences, visit www.cas.mssstate.edu.

Mississippi State University is taking care of what matters. Learn more at www.msstate.edu.

 

By Sarah Nicholas

Published on

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