Two groups of U of GH grads win 1st place in U.S. College Media Association awards with over 3,350 entries received from across North America
A group of Media & Communication Studies graduates from the University of Guelph-Humber (U of GH) won first-place at the 2025 Pinnacle Awards for public relations campaigns that they produced as part of their fourth-year capstone projects from the 2024-2025 academic year.
Two of the projects, which were part of the 2025 EMERGE Conference at U of GH, won first place, while three earned honourable mentions out of 3,358 entries to the competition from universities across North America. The Pinnacle Awards are put on annually by the U.S. College Media Association.
“What a remarkable achievement. I'm extremely proud of these students for thinking outside the box and building unique and creative projects. This award is a testament to a year's worth of hard work and dedication,” the students’ instructor, Gannon Loftus, said.
The two winning Guelph-Humber projects were:
- Ad Campaign category: Say Yes to Success (Brintha Manoharan, Lydia Lister, Emily Schmyr, Yati Tyagi)
- Video Public Service Announcement category: Dear Shoebox Project (Elise Grossi, Simona Mirigello, Aaliya St. George, Rheya Woolley)
Created over two semesters, EMERGE projects challenge students to create projects ranging from strategic communications and marketing plans, turnkey content packages, and undergraduate theses. Most students worked with an external client to develop a campaign for the organization, giving them real-world job experience before graduation.
Media & Communication Studies Chair Kathy Ullyott is confident that U of GH prepares graduates for careers – and the Pinnacle victories are a testament to the high calibre of work that students produce through the rigorous program at Guelph-Humber.
“Since we launched the first EMERGE capstone project in 2013, its demands have changed almost yearly to match drastic changes in the media industry, and every year I'm thrilled with how brilliantly our students rise to meet these demands,” Ullyott said. “The Pinnacles present very stiff competition from many of the best universities in North America, so these wins show just how far above their weight class U of GH students can punch.”
Congratulations to the recipients!
To learn more about the Media & Communication Studies program at the University of Guelph-Humber, click here.