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GCC's 2009 picture book wins Platinum Award in international competition

By Billie Owens

A Genesee Community College publication has earned top honors in an international competition recognizing excellence in traditional and emerging media.

The College's 2009 picture book won a Platinum Award at the 2010 Hermes Creative Awards. The Association of Marketing and Communications Professionals, an organization consisting of several thousand marketing, communication, advertising, public relations, media production and free-lance professionals, oversees this annual competition, which drew about 3,600 entries last year.

College Recruitment Communications Specialist Hal Legg developed the picture book, which earned recognition in the publications/brochure category, in conjunction with Buffalo-based Forest Productions & Photography. As the college's flagship recruitment publication, the picture book is designed specifically for use during face-to-face visits with prospects at high schools.

"It was a fairly ambitious project from the start," says Legg. "Our goal was to produce a piece that instantly resonates with 16- to 18-year-olds. I think you really have to wow them because there's so much competition among colleges for this group's attention."

So when Forest Productions & Photography's president approached him to ask about entering the publication in the competition last fall, Legg was flattered.

"The idea that our picture book was good enough to compete in the Hermes Awards was proof enough for me that we'd done a good job," he says.

Winning its highest accolade exceeded his expectation.

"An award of this magnitude is certainly surprising," says Legg. "Of course, I always set out to do solid work, but contributing to a piece that's one of the best of the best-well that's quite special. I hope it's rewarding to everyone at the college who played a role in creating the picture book, especially our students."

Genesee's picture book is one of just 27 projects worldwide to earn a Platinum Hermes this year in the publications/brochure category. Other winners include airplane manufacturer Cessna, energy producer Con Edison, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Louisiana and the Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport in Arizona.

"I guess we're in some pretty good company, here," says Virginia Taylor, Ph.D, Genesee's vice president for student and enrollment services. "When you look at some of the firms involved in other winners' projects -- big ad agencies from major cities -- it's gratifying to be on par with what industry leaders are doing creatively."

For further information or for a copy of the 2009 picture book please contact Hal Legg at 343-0055, ext. 6380.

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