PennWest Edinboro’s branch of the NWPA Innovation Beehive Network earned two regional marketing awards for their work supporting local businesses.

 

The Center for Branding and Strategic Communication earned a gold and silver medal in the “Marketing” category at the annual Niagara Awards on Thursday for their branding work and achievements with Foxburg Golf Preservation and Tandoori Hut Indian Cuisine, respectively.

 

“The Beehive at PennWest Edinboro is based around two goals– to give students a great educational experience that's rooted in real-world client interactions and to help spur economic development and business growth in our region,” said Chris Lantinen, director of Edinboro’s Center for Branding and Strategic Communication. “These projects are a great example of both these aims.”

 

Additionally, the PennWest student chapter of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) won “Special Events and Observances” for the Ryan Cappelletty Benefit Concert in November 2021.

 

The PRSA/NWPA Niagara Awards are awarded annually to public relations and marketing communications practitioners who have successfully addressed a contemporary issue with exemplary professional skill, creativity and resourcefulness.

 

Each year, the PRSA Niagara Awards recognize complete public relations or marketing communications programs and projects incorporating sound research, planning, execution and evaluation.

 

Edinboro’s Beehive team created branding for the Foxburg Golf Preservation’s 1887 Project – the name for their revitalization efforts of Foxburg Country Club – along with a rack card, email invite and additions to their pre-existing website design.

 

“The Beehive was honored to assist this historic golf course in their fundraising efforts,” Lantinen said. “It was absolutely a professional design and marketing scenario, and the students knocked it out of the park.”

 

Edinboro connected to Foxburg through Bruce Whitehair, vicechair of Foxburg and former vice president of university advancement at Edinboro.

 

Students and faculty collaborated for a completely renovated, strategic branding campaign for Tandoori Hut, which included signage and newly designed menus.

 

“Our Tandoori Hut project is a testament to the great work the Art Department does, in collaboration with the Beehive,” Lantinen said. “Students completely transformed Tandoori's look; they modernized it while honoring the passion and tools this restaurant uses. There's no replacement for that kind of real-world experience and results.”

 

Photo: Student and faculty of Edinboro’s Center for Branding and Strategic Communication: (front) Edinboro students Grace Maust, Shelby Smith and Alana Wright. (back) Edinboro students Thomas Taylor and Alex Herr and faculty leads Cassandra Reese, Scott Gladd and Chris Lantinen.