A Facebook campaign in May 2020 that showcased alumni nurses from the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford was named Best Facebook Campaign by #HigherEdSocial, which recognizes social media projects at colleges and universities throughout the world.
Twenty-one colleges and universities were recognized in 26 categories in the Best of Higher Ed Social Media 20-21 program. Pitt-Bradford was the only university from Pennsylvania to be recognized.
Pitt-Bradford’s #NursesWeek2020 campaign, which appeared on the university’s and the Pitt-Bradford Alumni Association’s Facebook pages, ran from May 6-12 during National Nurses Week and showcased many alumni nurses and the challenges they faced as they cared for patients during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The campaign included photos of and testimonials from several alumni; a video submitted by traveling nurse Erica Antonuccio, a 2011 alumna who was stationed in New York City; and a three-minute compilation video featuring photos of many alumni nurses.
The award-winning campaign was developed by Kat Procyk, who was Pitt-Bradford’s social media strategist at that time, with assistance from Lindsay Retchless, who was Pitt-Bradford’s alumni relations director, nursing faculty, and members of Pitt-Bradford’s Communications and Marketing team.
“This was an incredibly compelling campaign, showing the challenges and struggles our alumni nurses were facing during the onset of the pandemic,” said Pat Frantz Cercone, executive director of communications and marketing. “We are grateful to our alumni for sharing their heartfelt stories. All of us at Pitt-Bradford are so proud of them and the professional care they gave and continue to give to their patients.”
This is the first year for the #HigherEdSocial Best of Higher Ed Social Media awards program, which recognizes the best work in social media and digital marketing and communications from colleges and universities throughout the world.
The entries were judged by professionals in the industry.
This is the fourth award that Pitt-Bradford’s #NursesWeek2020 campaign has received. Earlier this year, the campaign won two Silver Awards in the 36th Annual Educational Advertising Awards program in March and a Bronze Award in the 2020 Collegiate Advertising Awards program in May.