NEW ORLEANS – The New Orleans Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) hosted the 2018 Fleurish Awards on Wednesday, Nov. 7, at Lula Restaurant and Distillery. Among various honors, Spears Group took home the coveted Silver Anvil, the industry's highest honor recognizing the best integrated public relations campaigns, for its work with Xavier University. This year's Silver Anvil award-winning fall recruitment campaign contributed to the university's largest fall 2018 freshman class since Hurricane Katrina in 2005. The award represents the second in the firm's history, having received the Silver Anvil in 2016.
The announcement was made in a press release.
"Countless hours of research and planning went into the planning and successful execution of the Xavier enrollment campaign," said Malana Joseph Mitchell, Vice President of Public Relations at Spears Group. "I am so grateful to Xavier for providing us with this incredible opportunity to attract the best and brightest to one of our nation's most prestigious HBCU's."
In addition to the Silver Anvil, Spears Group received four awards of excellence for the following submissions:
CAMPAIGNS
- Felipe's Mexican Taqueria, Cinco de Mayo Campaign
C-11 Integrated Marketing: Award of Excellence - National Fried Chicken Festival, 2018 Campaign
C-11 Integrated Marketing: Award of Excellence
OUTSTANDING ELEMENTS
- New Beginnings Schools Foundation, John F. Kennedy High School Rebranding
P-5 Branding Image & Design: Award of Excellence - Landis Construction, RFP Response & Presentation
P-3 Booklets: Award of Excellence
"Xavier University of Louisiana demonstrates the highest level of excellence and desired a campaign that allowed students of all backgrounds to see that excellence in themselves," said Xavier Chief of Staff Patrice Bell-Mercadel. "The real testament to the success of the campaign was in the adoption of the slogan 'eXcellence awaits yoU – exceed expectations' by our incoming first-year student class. The Xavier Marketing Communications Division, under the leadership of Bell Mercadel worked collaboratively with Spears Group to allow these future Xavierites to imagine themselves here at Xavier and become part of our mission based movement of creating a more just and humane society."
"As we celebrate the company's tenth anniversary this year, I am increasingly amazed and proud of what this team has accomplished," said Cleveland Spears III, President and CEO of Spears Group. "The combination of individual growth and determination with the trust bestowed upon us from our clients has helped us achieve a level of collective success beyond anything I could have imagined when I founded Spears Group in 2008. Our second Silver Anvil is a testament to each member of Team Spears, and I expect even greater things to come in the future."
Submissions for the 2018 PRSA Fleurish Awards were judged by a New York-based PRSA chapter.
