LAS VEGAS – It proved to be another banner year for the UNC Pembroke athletics department's external operations team on Wednesday as the Braves bested out a pair of NCAA Division I finalists for the National Association of Collegiate Marketing Administrators (NACMA) inaugural Unity Award, while also hauling in a sextet of "Best Of" honors from the organization.
 
The NACMA Unity Award was created to recognize a NACMA team for their efforts in creating a marketing campaign or initiative that is associated with diversity and inclusion. UNCP raked in the honor for its efforts in promoting Never Walk Alone Day in February. That event, which was born from the department's Never Walk Alone initiative created in Summer 2021, brought together 15 campus student organizations, eight varsity athletics teams, four University departments and two external organizations, to promote diversity and inclusion during a basketball doubleheader at Lumbee Guaranty Bank Court.
 
"Being able to create the Never Walk Alone program and turning it into something that our student body could really get behind and build into the fabric of UNCP made a huge difference on campus," said Associate Athletics Director of Marketing & Revenue Jack "Bull" Slavin. "(Our team) was able to create an event that tied together 29 organizations, and allowed us to create a truly educational experience while also still honoring our American Indian heritage."
 
The external operations team also picked up six more of the organization's "Best Of" Awards for its marketing and promotion efforts during the 2021-22 athletic season, including three gold medals.
 
Initiated in 2003, the NACMA "Best Of" Awards program honors outstanding achievements 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 2022 NACMA Convention Awards Ceremony on Wednesday.
 
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 Digital Promotion for its efforts during National Girls and Women in Sports Day, while also picking up top honors for Multi-Platform Branding Campaign (2021 MLK Week Celebration) and Season Ticket Campaign (2021 Football). The department earned a silver medal for Fan Engagement Video (Headphone Challenge), as well as bronze medals for both Community Engagement & PR (Virtual Education Day) and Virtual or In-Venue Student Promotion (Soccer's Labor Day Luau).
 
UNCP's external operations team has now claimed 25 NACMA "Best Of" Awards over the last five athletic seasons.
 

• Lamar Courmon, Director of Creative Services
• Morgan Sheehan, Director of Communications & Broadcasting
• Zach McKinstry, Director of UNCP Sports Network
• Jon Gross, Former Director (2019-21) of UNCP Sports Network
• Corey Pethers, Director of Fan Engagement
• Jen Smith, Former Director (2019-21) of Fan Engagement
• Jack "Bull" Slavin, Associate Athletics Director/Marketing & Revenue
• Todd Anderson, Associate Athletics Director/Strategic Initiatives

Student Volunteers: Randee Addison, Layth Allan, Anna Bass, Tai Beatty, Samantha DeBusk, Isaiah Dunovant, Christian Coleman, Dai-Shon Donald, Ananda Farland, Chase Foster, Tiarra Gordon, Ahmaad Green, Rae Griffin, Jay Guill, Brandon Hodge, Jacob Husson, Katie Johnson, Kirsten Kirschbaum, Marissa Morgan, Chad Norfleet, Kimberlyn Swinson, Getsemani Victoria, Rendi Wetherington, Ja'Quel Williams, Autumn Wright, Sharonda Wyche, Michelle Yitts.