USACE Galveston District recognized with 6 Army communication awards

Published April 1, 2014

GALVESTON, Texas (April 1, 2014) – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Galveston District Public Affairs Office was recognized with four awards from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Herbert A. Kassner Public Affairs Competition and two from the U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Keith L. Ware Public Affairs Competition.

“These award submissions showcased the district’s efforts to increase the publics’ understanding of our various missions along the Texas coast,” said Col. Richard Pannell, USACE Galveston District commander. “Our renewed focus on communication efforts in 2013 helped to build and maintain trust and understanding with our partners and the communities we serve as well as draw awareness to the district’s programs that strengthen our nation’s security, energize the economy and reduce risks from disasters.”
The district won four first place awards in the following Kassner award categories:

•First Place: Community Relations Program – Communicating Corps responsibilities along the Texas coast. The USACE Galveston District was no exception to the careful oversight of taxpayers, who scrutinized every dollar the federal government spent during 2013 – a year filled with federal budget cuts, hiring freezes, reduction in district services and a government shutdown. Realizing the importance of conveying to the public its relevancy and the impact its services have on strengthening the nation’s security, energizing the economy and reducing risks from disasters, staff launched a campaign to engage the public, increase awareness of our efforts along the Texas coast and build on our reputation and relevancy.

•First Place: Community Relations Special Event – Communicating a Campaign to Save Shorelines. Tasked with increasing the Texas coastal residents’ awareness and understanding of the district’s missions along the coast, staff hosted a one-day media event to communicate in English and Spanish the district’s shoreline restoration efforts.

•First Place: Digital Communication Campaign – #STEMInspiration Campaign Inspiring tomorrow’s leaders in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM). Nineteen percent of the Corps’ 36,600 workforce qualify for immediate retirement and 22 percent for early retirement, leaving the agency to struggle with a shrinking pool of college graduates with degrees in science, technology, engineering and math fields who are critical to the success of military missions and national security. To address this growing problem, the USACE Galveston District launched #STEMInspiration as part of Corps in the Classroom: Building Tomorrow’s Leaders in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math, an aggressive community outreach and social media campaign to spark students’ interest in STEM subjects, help counter stereotypes and increase participation of underrepresented groups in STEM careers.

•First Place: Audio Spot Production: STEM Inspiration Campaign Public Service Announcement. The 60 second radio public service announcement is a component of the Corps in the Classroom: Building Tomorrow’s Leaders in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math campaign. The PSA was broadcast on Happy Radio 92.5 FM.

The Kassner awards recognize military and civilian employee print and broadcast practitioners for journalistic excellence in furthering the objectives of the Corps' communication program. All first place winners advanced to compete in the U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Keith L. Ware Public Affairs Competition (an Army-wide journalism competition program). The district earned first place for Communicating a Campaign to Save Shorelines and an honorable mention for the #STEMInspiration Campaign.

For more information about the Ware awards visit http://www.army.mil/klw/index.html. For news and information, visit www.swg.usace.army.mil. Find us on Facebook www.facebook.com/GalvestonDistrict or follow us on Twitter www.twitter.com/USACEgalveston.


Release no. 14-013