UMD’s David Cowardin, videographer, and Lori Melton, senior communication associate, were honored at the annual University of Minnesota Communicators Forum conference on June 6, 2019.
Cowardin, who works in UMD’s University Marketing and Public Relations (UMPR), took home two of the Communicators Forum’s highest awards.
He won the Margo Award for his video “Discovery – A UMD Composition.” The Margo Award (short for Maroon and Gold) is presented to the entry that "offers the single most elegant solution within the means available (the most bang for your buck)."
The MIKE Award
The piece also won the MIKE or “people’s choice” award. This award is chosen by votes from U of M Communicators Forum members. Cowardin is the first recipient of BOTH the Margo and the MIKE awards in recent memory.
Contributors to the video included Dan Fitzpatrick, School of Fine Art’s Viz Lab; Scottie Gardonio, formerly with Glensheen; Kyle Marxhausen, UMPR; Braden Doucette, student worker, UMPR; and School of Fine Arts music students: Will Brueggman (who wrote the original score), Lorena Suarez, Jonas Biles, Jacob Burkart, Henry Eichman; Jonathan Erickson; Hunter Hamby, Cassie LaMarche; Tara Lorenz; and Eden Miller.
Melton, who also works in University Marketing and Public Relations, won the Gold Award for Writing in the long feature category for the Bridge alumni magazine article "The Mashup: Bulldogs & the Craft Beer Industry."
Melton wrote the article. Other contributors (all in UMPR) were Brett Groehler, photographer; Charlene Aaseng graphic designer; Esobel Schmitz, student graphic designer; Kyle Marxhausen, project manager; and Kathleen McQuillan-Hofmann, editor.
Learn more about UMD's University Marketing and Public Relations.