CM Life claims 17 national awards, including Business Pacemaker
Central Michigan Life Business and Advertising staff members (from left) Graphic Designer Kendyl Wilson, Account Manager Lucas Bieganski, Advertising Manger Rachel Kidder, Team Lead Olivia Garcia and Team Lead Mason Turner hold certificates and plaques awarded at the 2024 Associated Collegiate Press spring conference in La Jolla, California.
Central Michigan Life, Central Michigan University’s student-run media company, claimed 17 awards – including the Student Media Business Pacemaker Award -- at the Associated Collegiate Press (ACP) annual convention in La Jolla, California, March 7 through 9.
The Pacemaker is considered American collegiate media’s preeminent award, and celebrates excellence in student-led advertising, marketing, public relations and agency work. The recognition places CM Life’s advertising agency team among the top four in the nation. To qualify, the students had to submit a narrative of up to three pages addressing topics including: the biggest challenge their team faced during the 2023 calendar year; how they overcame those challenges; how they are best serving clients; how they are preparing for the future; and what makes their team unique.
This is the third time the ACP Student Media Business Pacemaker has been awarded, and the first time Central Michigan Life entered for consideration. The top 10 finalist organizations were announced in February.
“It is an honor to be working alongside such an incredible student advertising team at Central Michigan University,” said Assistant Director of Student Media Kathy Simon. "Our team set two goals this year: producing work that was successful for our clients and having those ideas recognized at a national level. Needless to say, they killed both goals."
In addition to the pacemaker, Central Michigan Life news and advertising staff claimed 16 team and individual prizes:
- First Place, Advertising and Business, Social Media Campaign (Rachel Kidder, “The Monthly Bud”)
- First Place, Best of Show, Advertisement (Kendyl Wilson, United Apartments’ homecoming ad)
- Second Place Advertising and Business, Best Advertising Representative (Mason Turner)
- Second Place, Best of Show, Reporting: Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (Nico Mendoza, “How Color Paints our World”)
- Second Place, Best of Show, Advertising Media Kit (Kendyl Wilson)
- Second Place, Best of Show, Digital Newsletter (staff, Today's Top Stories)
- Second Place, Best of Show, Website: (staff, www.cm-life.com)
- Third Place, Advertising and Business, Audience Engagement Event (staff, housing fair)
- Fifth Place, Advertising and Business, Best Advertising Graphic Designer (Kendyl Wilson)
- Seventh Place, Best of Show, Photojournalism: Sports Photo (Marie Underwood, CMU Football)
- Seventh Place, Best of Show, Reporting: Feature Story (Aurora Abraham, “She never gave up”)
- Honorable Mention Advertising and Business, Media Kit (Kendyl Wilson)
- Honorable Mention Advertising and Business, Print Advertisement (Kendyl
Wilson, United Apartments) - Honorable Mention, Advertising and Business, Digital Advertisement (Isabella
Cristen) - Student Media Business Pacemaker finalist award
- Online Pacemaker finalist award
