(MURRAY, Ky.) — Murray State University’s marketing and communications office took home two awards at the Public Relations Society of America Bluegrass Chapter’s 2025 Landmarks of Excellence ceremony in Louisville last week.
The Office of Branding, Marketing and Communication won recognition for campaigns supporting the university’s push for a new School of Veterinary Medicine and for producing an economic impact report showcasing Murray State’s $633 million contribution to Kentucky’s economy.
The PRSA Bluegrass Chapter, established in 1957, serves communications professionals throughout the Louisville region and southern Indiana. The awards ceremony celebrates excellence across the public relations and marketing fields.
Veterinary School Campaign
The veterinary medicine campaign centered on building support for a proposed School of Veterinary Medicine at Murray State, addressing Kentucky’s shortage of veterinarians, particularly for large animals.
“The primary purpose of our work was to present information in a factual and compelling way, for external audiences to better understand the need for this initiative,” the award submission stated. The campaign aimed to explain why the school matters economically to Kentucky, especially for audiences unfamiliar with farming or rural veterinary needs.
Economic Impact Report
Last fall, the office created a print piece highlighting Murray State’s economic footprint. Drawing on research by Professor Emeritus Dr. Gil Mathis and updated for inflation, the report showed the university generates more than $633 million annually for Kentucky.
A 2024 study by economics professor Dr. Simone Silva projected that campus construction projects will create an additional $348 million in economic activity through 2030. The report detailed revenue, tax generation, job creation and construction project impacts.
“It had been nearly eight years since the University had completed an economic impact report, so a fresh snapshot was needed,” according to the submission. The piece highlighted what organizers called the biggest period of campus expansion since Murray State’s founding, with multiple building projects underway simultaneously.
Executive Director of Marketing and Communication Shawn Touney emphasized the collaborative nature of the work. “What makes these two awards even more meaningful is that collaboration was essential with key academic areas such as our Hutson School of Agriculture and Arthur J. Bauernfeind College of Business,” Touney said.
Founded in 1922, Murray State enrolls more than 10,000 students across its main Murray campus and five regional locations in Fort Campbell, Henderson, Hopkinsville, Madisonville and Paducah.
