Two U of A Staff Members Honored in 2021 National Federation of Press Women Contest

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Two Fayetteville-based communications professionals working for the University of Arkansas System were among those honored with national awards from the National Federation of Press Women in its 2021 communications contest. Awards were presented June 10 in a virtual conference, hosted by the organization's Arkansas affiliate, Arkansas Press Women.

Fred Miller, a science editor and photographer for the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station, the research arm of the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, received three national awards, detailed below. From his office on the Milo J. Shult Agricultural Research and Extension Center, he provides communications services to the division's research programs on four university campuses, five research and extension centers and six research stations located around the state.

• First Place, News or Feature Release, Single Release for "Regulations keep take-out food safe from COVID-19, but precautions still important during purchase; hand-washing essential even for those in isolation at home."
• Honorable Mention, Specialty Articles, Physical Health for "Research aims to prove childhood health benefits of blueberry extracts."
• Honorable Mention, Specialty Articles, Agriculture for "Fitbits and AI — technology may help improve quality in chicken meat."

Michelle Parks, director of communications for the Fay Jones School of Architecture and Design at the U of A, received two national awards, detailed below. She directs strategic communications for the Fay Jones School, including press releases, Newswire stories, the annual ReView alumni magazine and other print pieces, website content and social media — highlighting school initiatives and emphasizing the accomplishments of students, faculty, staff and alumni.

• Third Place, Feature Story, Magazine, Newsletter/Other Publication for "CLT Panels Studied in New Hall."
• Honorable Mention, Publication Regularly Edited by Entrant, Magazine/Magapaper for "ReView alumni magazine Winter 2019/2020."

Cassidy Flanagin, the Fay Jones School's creative services manager, designed the award-winning ReView Winter 2019/2020 issue, and Shawnya Meyers, the school's digital media specialist, contributed content to the magazine.

These national award-winning entries by Miller and Parks had previously placed first in the Arkansas Press Women's 2021 professional communications contest before advancing to the NFPW competition. This year, 53 Arkansas first-place entries competed at the national level.

Work by Miller and Parks received four additional awards in the statewide Arkansas Press Women's contest. The APW awards luncheon was held May 8 in Little Rock. 

Parks received Second Place in Writing, Personality Profile, More Than 500 Words for "Focused on Adaptive Reuse Project in Home State."

Miller received the following honors:

• Second Place in Writing, Specialty Articles, Science or Technology for "Research on soybean vein necrosis virus leads to unexpected discovery."
• Second Place in Writing, Specialty Articles, Green/Environmental for "Division of Agriculture entomologist on mission to save Arkansas' bees."
• Third Place in Writing, Specialty Articles, Agriculture for "Researchers aim to outsmart waterborne pathogens in hydroponic systems."