Pushing creative boundaries with its marketing collateral has earned Alcorn State University international acclaim.
The university’s “Always Alcorn” marketing campaign won a 2024 platinum MARCOM award in the Strategic Communications Category. The logo refresh received an honorable mention award.
Since its inception in 2004, the MARCOM Awards competition has become one of the largest and most respected creative contests in the world.
The 2024 competition drew more than 6,500 entries from the United States, Canada and 52 other countries.
“We are honored to receive these MARCOM awards for the ‘Always Alcorn’ brand campaign,” said Maxine Greenleaf, vice president of marketing and communication at Alcorn State University. “This international recognition reflects our commitment to telling Alcorn’s story in a way that honors our 154 year legacy while positioning us for continued excellence. I am grateful to my steering committee members, the marketing and communication team, Beatrice Szalas and the Red Cactus team, President Cook, our students, faculty, staff, and alumni who brought this campaign to life.”
“Always Alcorn” is a consistent theme used by the university to promote school pride and student success. It also helps individuals to properly pronounce the institution’s name.
Alcorn partnered with Red Cactus Marketing for its rebranding initiative. It was a comprehensive project that took over a year and a half to develop across multiple phases from the research and discovery phase to the brand rollout and implementation phase.
The company is a boutique research and branding agency that helps educational institutions and mission-driven organizations create and launch remarkable brands.
“Winning the Platinum MARCOM Award for Alcorn’ ‘Always Alcorn’ campaign is a proud moment for us and a reflection of Alcorn’s enduring impact,” said Beatrice Szalas, principal and chief collaborator at Red Cactus Marketing. “This recognition underscores the power of Alcorn’s story and the strength of its community. We’re grateful to have helped bring Alcorn’s legacy of excellence and innovation to the forefront, inspiring new generations to join in its remarkable journey.”
Winning a MarCom award is a highly sought after peer recognition from the creative industry. Winners range from huge international creative agencies to Fortune 500 companies to individual creative professionals.
“The ‘Always Alcorn’ brand captures the essence of who we are at the university, a family united by pride and tradition along with a heart to see our students succeed,” said Greenleaf.
