(Stillwater, Okla. – July 31, 2013) Oklahoma State University’s Robert M. Kerr Food & Agricultural Products Center received statewide recognition during the Oklahoma College Public Relations Association 2013 Summer Conference.

Mandy Gross, FAPC communications services manager, was awarded for her outstanding work at the event receiving first place in the special publication category with the 2012 Annual Report and first place in the newsletter category with fapc.biz fall/winter 2012.

“It is extremely exciting to receive this distinction,” Gross said. “Knowing that we are creating publications worthy of this recognition means we are doing something right in our effort to produce creative, fresh and educational materials to promote FAPC. The number of entries and quality of work increase every year during the awards competition, so receiving these awards is a great honor.”

The annual report showcases a variety of FAPC projects worked on during the year. In 2012, FAPC was active in 125 client projects, hosted approximately 71 workshop and conference activities with a total of 1,693 attendees. The fapc.biz publication is a biannual release offering article-length information about many areas of food technology, product development, quality management, and business and marketing, and also includes current industry news and biographical information about business leaders in Oklahoma.

Gross accepted the awards at the OCPRA awards banquet that capped off the final night of the conference.

“The OCPRA conference is held annually in Oklahoma,” Gross said. “This year’s conference was featured at the Downstream Casino and Resort in Quapaw, Okla.  More than 100 participants attended, representing higher education institutes from across the state.”

The July 14-16 conference consisted of breakout sessions with topics ranging from social media to branding, keynote speakers, a business meeting, networking opportunities and, of course, awards banquet.

According to the OCPRA website, the group provides superb networking opportunities for new and seasoned PR professionals — from both public and private institutions. In addition, they aim to honor the creative imagination of members and member institutions in marketing and public relations efforts.

“This conference always offers innovative ideas and unique perspectives from a communications standpoint,” Gross said. “Participating in this conference is a great way to participate in creative thinking to bring new and fresh ideas to the workplace and network with communications specialists from other colleges and universities.”

For more information about FAPC, visit www.fapc.biz. To receive copies of FAPC publications, including the annual report and fapc.biz fall/winter 2013 newsletter, call 405-744-6071 or email fapc@okstate.edu.

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Oklahoma State University is a modern land-grant system of interdisciplinary programs that prepares students for success. OSU is America’s Brightest Orange. Through leadership and service, OSU is preparing students for a bright future and building a brighter world for all. As Oklahoma’s only university with a statewide presence, OSU improves the lives of people in Oklahoma, the nation and the world through integrated, high-quality teaching, research and outreach. OSU has more than 36,000 students across its five-campus system and more than 24,000 on its combined Stillwater and Tulsa campuses, with students from all 50 states and around 120 nations. Established in 1890, OSU has graduated more than 245,000 students to serve Oklahoma, the nation and the world.