Southern Wesleyan University Marketing Team Earns National Recognition in Educational Advertising Awards
Apr 9, 2026 | Awards and recognitions
CENTRAL, SC — Southern Wesleyan University’s Marketing team earned seven national honors in the 41st Annual Educational Advertising Awards, including one Gold, four Silver, one Bronze, and a Merit award. The recognition comes in the University’s first year submitting entries to the national competition.
“This was our first time entering, so we didn’t quite know what to expect,” said Jennifer Walker, Director of Marketing. “To see the team’s work recognized at this level is incredibly meaningful, not just because of the awards, but because it affirms the quality and purpose behind what we’re creating every day.”
Walker credited members of the marketing team for their contributions to the award-winning work, including Isaac Clary, Website and CRM Communications Coordinator, and Seth Williams, Videographer, both SWU alumni, along with Heather McAlister, Graphic Designer and Production Coordinator.
Recognizing Work That Tells the SWU Story
The award-winning entries reflect the breadth of SWU’s marketing efforts — from storytelling and digital media to print and institutional communications. Award-winning projects included:
- Gold
- Merry Music Piano Recital Poster
- Silver
- President’s Annual Report
- Athletic Hype Video
- My SWU Story: Dalton Land Video
- Website Refresh
- Bronze
- Freedom’s Hill Video
- Merit
- $25 in ’25 Postcard
Together, these pieces represent more than individual campaigns, they reflect a collective effort to communicate the University’s mission, highlight student experiences, and strengthen connection with prospective students, alumni, and the broader community.
The Educational Advertising Awards
The Educational Advertising Awards is the largest educational advertising competition in the country. This year’s competition included more than 2,000 entries from over 1,000 institutions across all 50 states and several international locations.
Entries were evaluated by a national panel of higher education marketers, creative directors, and advertising professionals, with awards granted based on creativity, marketing execution, and overall impact.
A Team Effort with Broader Impact
For Walker and her team, the recognition is not simply about awards—it’s about the role marketing plays in advancing the University’s mission.
“Every project we take on is connected to something bigger,” Walker said. “But we’ve seen time and again that student stories are the most powerful way we communicate who we are. When prospective students and families can see themselves in someone else’s journey, that’s what creates connection—and that’s what differentiates SWU.”
She added, “Our goal is always to serve that mission well, whether we’re telling a student’s story or supporting the broader work of the University. This recognition reflects a team that cares deeply about doing that with excellence.”
From highlighting student transformation to strengthening how the University communicates its value, these efforts reflect Southern Wesleyan’s commitment to being Biblically faithful, academically rigorous, vocationally effective, and financially accessible in both message and practice.
As Southern Wesleyan continues to grow and evolve, the Marketing team’s work plays a key role in shaping how the University is seen, understood, and experienced—both on campus and beyond.
About Southern Wesleyan University
Southern Wesleyan University is a Christ-centered, student-focused, faith-filled community that offers inventive learning experiences. The university endeavors to prepare its students to be dedicated scholars and servant-leaders who impact the world for Christ. For details about degree programs, go online to www.swu.edu.
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