By: Todd Anderson, Associate AD/Communications & Strategic Initiatives
CLEVELAND, Ohio – The UNC Pembroke athletics department was well-represented as the National Association of Collegiate Marketing Administrators (NACMA) kicked off its virtual convention that spans much of the month of June. The athletics department's external operations team picked up five more of the organization's "Best Of" Awards for its efforts during a challenging 2020-21 athletic season, including one gold medal.
Initiated in 2003, the NACMA "Best Of" Awards program honors outstanding achievement in marketing and promotions. Awards are presented in 16 categories, with each category divided into three groups based upon school size and conference affiliations to promote fairness. The winners were recognized during the 2021 NACMA Virtual Awards Ceremony on June 10.
The Black & Gold was among 62 colleges and universities (all levels) to earn at least one award, and one of just 34 institutions to bring home multiple honors. UNCP was one of just seven schools to be crowned with five or more NACMA "Best Of" awards, and only Grand Valley State (9), as well as NCAA Division I counterparts Delaware (7) and Marquette (7), claimed more hardware.
UNCP falls into Group III which represents all Division II Institutions, Division III Institutions, NAIA Institutions, Junior College Institutions, Community College Institutions and Canadian Institutions. UNCP, along with Minnesota State Moorhead, Seattle U and Waterloo, all claimed five awards to top that division.
The Braves earned a gold medal under the category of Multi-Platform Branding Campaign for its marketing efforts for College Colors Day. The department earned a silver medals for both Fan Giveaway Promotion (Advent Calendar) and Community Engagement & Public Relations (softball's Autism Awareness Series), as well as bronze medals for both Event Attendance Promotion (basketball's Neon Night) and Intro/Hype Video (men's basketball intro video).
UNCP's external operation team has now claimed 19 NACMA "Best Of" Awards over the last four athletic seasons.
