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SUNY Canton Roo Express Shuttle Bus design earns college's public relations office three awards

Posted 7/9/14

The SUNY Canton Roo Express Shuttle Bus design earned the college's public relations office an award for outdoor advertising and a media specialist won two awards for excellence in writing. …

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SUNY Canton Roo Express Shuttle Bus design earns college's public relations office three awards

Posted

The SUNY Canton Roo Express Shuttle Bus design earned the college's public relations office an award for outdoor advertising and a media specialist won two awards for excellence in writing.

Publications Coordinator Matthew J. Mulkin received the best of category award for Outdoor Advertising from the SUNY Council for University Advancement Divisions (SUNYCUAD). Mulkin transformed a plain white van into a mobile billboard. The college received his award, and two additional awards, at the annual SUNYCUAD conference held recently in Lake Placid.

Mulkin used his own portrayal of the college's Kangaroo mascot, Roody Roo, and its Leaf and Parallelogram emblem to promote SUNY Canton's overall brand on the Roo Express Shuttle Van. He used a combination of hand drawings and computer renderings to create the design.

"It was a derivation from the original trademarked Kangaroo logo created to fit on 15-passenger bus," Mulkin said. "It definitely makes people look twice."

The customized vehicle displays two different versions of the mascot. He is shown bounding forward on either side and again clinging to the back of the bus. Mulkin used the college's signature blue, green and gold throughout the design.

"Students identify with Roody," Mulkin said. "We used the Kangaroo in the design so students would know that the bus is specifically for them."

Mulkin is a 2011 graduate of SUNY Canton's Graphic and Multimedia Design program.

Media Relations Manager Gregory E. Kie won best of category in Excellence in Writing-Research and Other Technical Writing for a news release titled "New SUNY Canton Grant-Funded Research May Help Offset High Home Heating Costs." After receiving attention locally, the story was picked up by Biomass Magazine and published on their website.

"Many north country residents want to save money and keep their homes warm," Kie said. "It was interesting to see the research gain notice nationally."

The release led to a Time Warner Cable News interview with Professor Emeritus Arthur G. Hurlbut and Michael J. Newtown, dean of the Canino School of Engineering Technology. The two principle researchers are working with Cornell Cooperative extension to install and monitor high-efficiency wood-pellet boilers. The article was also published by North Country Now in an online format.

Kie's release announcing a World War II veterans living history celebration received the judge's citation for Excellence in Writing-General News Writing.

Combined, SUNY Canton has won six awards for advertising, marketing and writing from SUNYCUAD, including a 2012 best of category award for it's television commercials.

SUNYCUAD is an organization representing professionals employed in institutional advancement areas, such as public relations, alumni and development and marketing, at every SUNY campus.