The student-run strategic communications agency earned top honors from The American Institute of Integrated Marketing, including first-place recognition for Social Media, Press Relations, and Advisor of the Year.
Live Oak Communications, Elon University’s student-run strategic communications agency, continues to earn national acclaim, winning five Bullseye Awards from The American Institute of Integrated Marketing (AIIM) – one of the top honors in collegiate marketing and communications.
Presented annually, the AIIM Bullseye Awards recognize the best student-led campaigns across the country in categories such as advertising, branding, public relations and social media. These awards are a benchmark for excellence, creativity and real-world impact in the next generation of marketing professionals.
Live Oak’s standout performance included three gold medals — for Social Media, Press Relations, and Advisor of the Year — as well as silver in Branding and bronze for Agency of the Year. The wins reflect the agency’s national reputation for delivering client-ready campaigns that blend bold ideas with strategic execution.
“Live Oak students continue to build on their success year after year, creating real work for real clients for real results,” said Hal Vincent, senior lecturer of strategic communications and the agency’s faculty director, who was honored with the Advisor of the Year award. “To once again watch these students draw attention from marketing communications professionals at the national level is an indication of how Live Oak Communications’ experiential education model places students in real situations to apply their learning outside the classroom to benefit our community.”
Among the award-winning projects:
- The gold-winning social media campaign promoted McPherson Cleaners’ “study away” service for North Carolina college students using targeted boosted posts.
- The press relations entry for Olde Forest Racquet Club featured a comprehensive media kit that successfully amplified the club’s “Club Love” campaign.
- A branding campaign for Blue Ribbon Diner, which earned silver, highlighted the restaurant’s identity using its signature “Dirty Dog” and iconic imagery to appeal to loyal customers.
About Live Oak Communications
Founded in 2007 at Elon University, Live Oak Communications is a student-run strategic communications agency that delivers industry-replicable professional advertising and public relations solutions. The agency’s expertise spans audience research, content creation, digital marketing, direct/e-mail/social marketing, advertising, print/digital design, and media impact analysis. The talented student teams at Live Oak are committed to generating and delivering innovative communication services tailored to meet the needs of real clients.
Live Oak currently serves five clients, including the Alamance Chamber of Commerce, The Olde Forest Racquet Club, McPherson Cleaners, The Mark at Elon, and Blue Ribbon Diner/The Village Grill. To learn more about the agency and its work, visit liveoakcommunications.com.