GATLINBURG — MTSU received 28 awards in the Tennessee College Public Relations Association’s annual competition recognizing excellence in marketing and communications among the state’s public and private higher education entities.

The association, at its annual conference in Gatlinburg on May 29, presented MTSU with eight Gold, 11 Silver and nine Bronze awards in 24 different categories. It was the fifth consecutive year that MTSU was tops in total awards.

In this 2014 file photo, Chris Massaro, director of athletics for MTSU, stands inside Floyd Stadium with the new #TRUE Athletic Marketing campaign posters for the upcoming 2014-2015 Athletics schedule. (MTSU file photo by Andy Heidt)

“These honors, and the work behind them, spotlight the tremendous quality and diversity of MTSU’s programs, as well as the excellence of our faculty,” said Andrew Oppmann, vice president for marketing and communications.

MTSU’s #TRUE advertising and branding campaign for athletics received four honors, including a Gold for best print advertising series, a Silver for best video advertisement and two Bronze Awards for best billboard and posters.

The university swept all three awards for best feature photography — Gold, Silver and Bronze — and received two additional Silver Awards for best spot news photography and best sports photography.

Two stories that yielded national attention for MTSU — the cross-country trip by professor Cliff Ricketts on alternative fuels and the launch of a new unmanned aerial systems degree — were honored with Gold and Silver awards, respectively, for best media relations campaigns.

Efforts with last October’s opening of the $147-million Science Building received a Gold Award for a special magazine and a Silver Award for best special event.

Other Gold Awards for MTSU included best radio advertising (“Middle in a Minute: The Writer’s Loft”); best news writing (MTSU’s obituary on legendary journalist John Seigenthaler); best electronic magazine for MTSU Magazine; and best low-budget publication (on adult degree-completion efforts).

A large crowd of supporters turned out Oct. 15, 2014, for the grand opening ceremony for the new MTSU Science Building. (MTSU file photo by J. Intintoli)

The honors follow MTSU’s six regional awards earlier this year from the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education. Those awards recognized the #TRUE campaign; articles in MTSU Magazine; the True Blue Tour for prospective students; True Blue Preview videos; and MTSU’s outreach at the Grammy Awards.

Here is a complete list of MTSU’s 28 awards in the Tennessee College Public Relations Association’s contest:

Gold (eight awards)

• Print Advertising (series), #TRUE campaign for MTSU Athletics.
• Radio Advertising/PSA, “Middle in a Minute: The Writer’s Loft.”
• News Writing, MTSU’s obituary on John Seigenthaler.
• Special Publication, “Science Building Opening Magazine.”
• Feature Photography, “MTSU’s Spiderman.”
• Low-Budget Publication, “Graduate MT Direct Mail.”
• College/Alumni Magazine, Electronic, “MTSU Magazine.”
• Media Relations Campaign: “Key West to Seattle on ‘Southern Fried Fuel.’”

MMTSU professor Ryan Otter gets up close with a long-jawed orb weaver spider as part of his environmental toxicology research following the 2008 TVA Kingston Fossil Plant coal fly ash slurry spill. (MTSU file photo by Andy Heidt)

Silver (11 awards)

• Video Advertisement/PSA, #TRUE campaign for MTSU Athletics.
• Special Event (seven days or less), “MTSU Science Building Grand Opening.”
• Feature Writing, “Beyond Critical Mass.”
• Newsletter, Printed: “MTSU President’s Newsletter.”
• Reports, “Tennessee Small Business Development Center’s Annual Summary.”
• Spot News Photography, “Ice Bucket Challenge.”
• Feature Photography, “True Blue Family Duo.”
• Sports Photography, “Contested Shot.”
• University Website, Overall: MTSU.edu.
• Media Relations Campaign: “MTSU launches unmanned aerial systems concentration.”
• Overall Promotional Campaign: True Blue Preview videos.

Bronze (nine awards)

• Banners/Outdoor Media, #TRUE billboards for MTSU Athletics.
• Feature Writing, “The ABCs of MTSU’s Quest for Student Success.”
• Poster, #TRUE campaign for MTSU Athletics.
• Postcard/Invitation, “MTSU Arts Patron Society Invitation.”
• Feature Photography, “Tapping Into the Arts.”
• University-related Webpage or Site: MTSUNews.com.
• Radio/TV Show or Newscast: “MTSU Out of the Blue: April 2015.”
• College Promotional Video, “MTSU True Blue Preview: Aerospace.”
• Overall Promotional Campaign, “Graduate in Four and Get More.”

MTSU professor Cliff Ricketts, left, and “Southern Fried Fuel” team members Terry Young, Mike Sims, MTSU student Ben Black and Paul Ricketts celebrate the 3,500-mile completion of the journey in mid-March. (MTSU file photo by News and Media Relations)