OSU-Tulsa team takes home awards in graphic, writing, photography categories and more at 2025 OCPRA Conference

Thursday, July 17, 2025

Media Contact: Aaron Campbell | OSU-Tulsa Communications Coordinator | 918-594-8046 | aaron.ross.campbell@okstate.edu

Oklahoma State University-Tulsa earned a first and third place award at the 2025 Oklahoma Colleges Public Relations Association (OCPRA) Awards Ceremony Monday night, as well as two honorable mentions.

The 2025 awards competition received a total of 607 entries by 23 entering institutions, making it one of the more competitive contests in its 33-year history.

OSU-Tulsa took home gold in the Recruitment Brochure category. The updated graduate recruitment brochure emphasizes the affordability and flexibility of the graduate degree programs offered on the OSU-Tulsa campus. The brochure is tailored specifically for working adults, presenting graduate school as an approachable, accessible next step rather than an intimidating leap.

The This is Orange Country marketing campaign takeover of Tulsa’s iconic Golden Driller statue won the third place achievement award in a brand new category, Innovative Signage and Environmental Design. The idea, pulled off in collaboration with OSU Center for Health Sciences and OSU Institute of Technology, decorated the statue and oil derrick with OSU orange, declaring “This is Orange Country.”

OSU-Tulsa earned honorable mentions in the Hard News Writing and Campus, Architecture or Landscape Photo categories as well. The photo, “Frozen Downtown Dawn,” captured by Ryan Jensen, shows the sun rising upon an icy winter day on campus.

The article, “Thunderbird Drone Festival brings high-tech family fun and innovation to OSU-Tulsa,” marks OSU-Tulsa’s continued dedication to advance air technology and community connection. The article highlights OSU-Tulsa as a vibrant hub for family-friendly, technology-focused events in the Greenwood District, a historically underserved and under-resourced community.

“These awards reflect the core of our work: raising OSU’s visibility in the community and connecting working adults to life-changing educational opportunities at OSU-Tulsa,” said Jamie Huston, director of OSU-Tulsa Marketing and Communications. “From bold, public-facing campaigns to student-centered recruitment tools, we focused this year on efforts that support access, innovation and impact. It’s rewarding to see the pieces that reflect those priorities get this kind of recognition.”

This year’s results join a growing, steady legacy of success at the awards competition. At the 2024 awards ceremony, the most competitive in the competition’s history, OSU-Tulsa earned three grand awards for web design, social media and news writing, as well as an achievement award and two honorable mentions.

Huston also officially concluded her one-year term as president of OCPRA on Tuesday. This position is appointed by the OCPRA board, which is elected by representatives from OCPRA’s 30+ member institutions.

The OSU-Tulsa Marketing and Communications team is Ryan Jensen, assistant director, Aaron Campbell, communications coordinator, Alicia McClendon, digital communications coordinator, Patti Conroy, project coordinator, Lori Burgan, events and services coordinator and Katie Smith, communications and events specialist.

OCPRA is a non-profit professional association for Oklahoma higher education communicators. The association focuses on professional development and networking opportunities for its member institutions, as well as recognizing their work through its annual awards competition. A full list of 2025 OCPRA Award winners, along with the winners from previous years, can be found at ocpra.org/pastawards.

OSU-Tulsa’s 2025 placements, and links to the awarded entries, are:

• Grand (1st) – Recruitment Brochure - OSU-Tulsa Graduate Recruitment Brochure
• Achievement (3rd) – Innovative Signage and Environmental Design – This is Orange Country Golden Driller Takeover
• Honorable Mention (4th) – Campus, Architecture or Landscape Photo - Frozen Downtown Dawn
• Honorable Mention (4th) – Hard News Writing – Thunderbird Drone Festival brings high-tech family fun and innovation to OSU-Tulsa