Atlantic Cape Marketing Director Laura Batchelor named NCMPR Communicator of the Year

SYRACUSE, NY — Atlantic Cape Community College Executive Director of Marketing and College Relations Laura Batchelor was named Communicator of the Year by the National Council for Marketing and Public Relations (NCMPR) District 1 during this year’s conference held Oct. 2-4 in Syracuse, New York.

In addition to this prestigious honor, Atlantic Cape took home a dozen awards at this year’s conference including Gold awards for the marketing materials created for the 2022 Atlantic Cape Restaurant Gala.

NCMPR is the leading professional development association exclusively serving those working in communication at two-year community and technical colleges. The Medallion Awards, held each fall during district conferences, recognize outstanding achievement in design and communication at community and technical colleges in seven districts.

One of the most prestigious awards presented to an NCMPR member, the Communicator of the Year Award recognizes a communication professional at a two-year community or technical college who has demonstrated leadership in college communication and marketing. 

During her acceptance speech, Batchelor credited her peers in NCMPR for helping mentor her to be the leader she is today. 

“In the business world of today, to actually have a group of people, who could consider themselves competitors, working together for a greater good is truly a rarity,” Batchelor said.

She also thanked the College Relations team at Atlantic Cape.

 “I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for my team. If you’re lucky enough like me to have a strong team behind you, then the job of marketing is much easier,” she said. 

Batchelor came to Atlantic Cape after two decades in the private sector. She has a bachelor’s degree in English from the University of Florida in 1993 and a master’s degree in Integrated Marketing Communications from West Virginia University in July 2022.

Batchelor said that the mission of the communications and marketing teams at community colleges is a critical one.

“I cannot think of a mission I personally care about more. I think education is a light for people to get out of poverty, to grow their careers. We are at the forefront of that,” she said. “Education can make all things possible.”

The winner of each of the seven district Communicator Awards will be considered for the national award at the 2023 national conference in Orlando, Florida.

This year’s Medallion winning materials from Atlantic Cape included three Gold awards for the Gala Invitation and Gala marketing campaign, as well as the Inlet Project campaign. The Marketing Department also took home Silver awards for the flyer created for Self Service Student Planning, articles on the Academy of Culinary Arts 40th anniversary and an ACA alumni, and the social media campaign to celebrate Community College Month in April. Five Bronze awards were also earned for projects such as the Wind Training Center highlight video and the Stop, Drop, Enroll enrollment campaign.

Members in District 1 are from Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, the Canadian provinces of New Brunswick, Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and Quebec, and the United Kingdom.

 Full list of Awards

1. Flyer (single or series) for Self Service Student Planning Flyer - SILVER
2. Postcard (Single or Series) for OMIC Postcard - BRONZE
3. Notes/Cards/Invitations for Gala Invitation -  GOLD 
4. Quick-Turn Video for Wind Training Center Highlight Video - BRONZE
5. Communication Success Story for ACA Celebrates 40 Years Coverage - SILVER  
6. Government or Community Relations Campaign for Inlet Project - GOLD
7. Special Event or Fundraising Campaign for Restaurant Gala - GOLD
8. Successful Recruitment or Marketing Program for Stop, Drop, Enroll - BRONZE
9. Social Media Campaign for Community College Month coverage - SILVER
10. DEI Marketing for Accessibility Advocacy Speaker Series - BRONZE 
11. Excellence in Writing (short form) for ACA Gastronomy Alum & Basketball Story - SILVER & BRONZE

 About Atlantic Cape Community College

Atlantic Cape is a comprehensive two-year community college serving the residents of Atlantic and Cape May counties. The college offers over 40 career, transfer and workforce development programs to more than 8,000 students annually at three campuses in New Jersey: Atlantic City, Cape May Court House and Mays Landing.