November 18, 2004

Bowling Green, Ky. - Western Kentucky University's Imagewest, the only student-run advertising and public relations agency in the nation, won more than half of the awards given out Tuesday at the Bowling Green Professional Marketing Association Markie Awards ceremony.

Twelve area organizations competed in the 2004 Markie Awards with a total of 69 entries in 15 categories that showcased the best examples of marketing by PMA members. Imagewest's student interns, who competed exclusively with professional marketers, won in eight of the 15 categories.

"How many 'real' agencies can say that they won a significant number of awards in less than one year of start-up," said assistant professor of advertising Mark Simpson, one of the agency's faculty advisers.

Imagewest opened in January 2004 and has been in business for only three semesters including summer term. This semester seven student interns, along with agency manager Heather Garcia, run the agency, which has clients both within the university and from out in the community.

"We were overwhelmed by the outcome," Garcia said. "I knew our interns were good, but now they're award-winning good."

The sixth annual Markie Awards were presented at the Holiday Inn University Plaza Hotel in Bowling Green.

Imagewest won awards from all three semesters in the following categories:

Billboard: WKU Admissions Office

Brochure: Imagewest's Self Promotion

Corporate Identity: Klein Consulting, Medical Nutrition Therapy in Bowling Green.

Direct Mail Piece: PIC in Franklin.

Poster: Service One Credit Union

Special Event: WKU President's Office

Television Advertisement: Imagewest's Self Promotion

Visual Presentation: United Way of Southern Kentucky

"It is satisfying that our clients trust and believe in us to assist with their marketing projects," Garcia said. "Although these awards are great, our students are winners no matter what we bring home."

Interns for the spring semester included Megan Burch of Prospect; Meredith Gruebbel of Louisville; Mandy McKinney of Paducah; Crystal Robinson of Salvisa; and Jennifer Thiery of Bowling Green.

During the summer internship the following students participated: Summer Bolton and Kevin Brassell, both of Bowling Green; Crystal Davis of Danville; Erica Guest of Springfield; Leigh Krampe of Louisville; and Lance Parrish of Bardstown.

Fall semester interns include Drew Allen of Brentwood, Tenn.; Summer Bolton of Bowling Green; Jessica Burnett of Mt. Juliet, Tenn.; Randa Gilliland of Hawesville; Jillian Jackson of Frankfort; Michelle Lafollette of Hodgenville; and Dana Underdonk of Radcliff. Heather Garcia, agency manager, resides in Franklin.

Imagewest is a student-run advertising and public relations agency that provides students with real-world agency experience. Imagewest allows students to further develop their skills and enhance their portfolio giving them a competitive edge as they enter the workforce.

Imagewest operates year-round and offers a variety of services such as graphic and web design, news releases, special event planning, focus group sessions, oversized large-scale printing and much more.

Imagewest is located on WKU's campus in the Mass Media and Technology Hall, room 333. Any revenues that are generated go back into the School of Journalism and Broadcasting to cover expenses such as equipment, scholarships and educational travel. The agency is part of Western Kentucky University's School of Journalism and Broadcasting's Center for 21st Century Media Program of Distinction, which is approved and funded by Kentucky's Council on Post-Secondary Education Regional Excellence Trust Fund.

For more on Imagewest, visit www.wku.edu/imagewest.

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