U of A System Staff Members Honored in 2023 Arkansas Press Women Communications Contest

Fred Miller

This photo by Fred Miller illustrates an article he wrote about a U of A poultry science researcher who is working to improve water use efficiency in the world's number one livestock animal — chickens. His article received First Place in Specialty Articles — Green/Environmental in the 2023 Arkansas Press Women's communications contest.

Two communications professionals working for the U of A System in Fayetteville were among those honored by Arkansas Press Women (APW) in its 2023 professional communications contest. An awards luncheon was held May 20 in Bentonville. 

Fred Miller, a science editor and photographer with the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station, received five awards, detailed below. From his office on the Milo J. Shult Agricultural Research and Extension Center in Fayetteville, he provides communications services to the research arm of the U of A System Division of Agriculture.

• First Place in Specialty Articles — Green/Environmental for "Experiment station researcher in search of a more water efficient chicken"
• First Place in Specialty Articles — Science or Technology for "Entomologist wants to know if invasive mosquitoes, native biting midges make good neighbors"
• Second Place in Specialty Articles — Green/Environmental for "Researchers investigate health impacts of residual pesticides on wild bees"
• Third Place in Specialty Articles — Science or Technology for "Researcher employs microorganisms to counter major disease affecting beef industry"
• Honorable Mention in Photography — Single Photograph — News or feature photo for "Insect Toxicology Lab-Bees"

Michelle Parks, director of communications for the Fay Jones School of Architecture and Design on the U of A's Fayetteville campus, received three awards, detailed below. She directs strategic communications for the Fay Jones School, including press releases, News articles, the annual ReView alumni magazine and other print pieces, website content and social media highlighting school initiatives and emphasizing the accomplishments of students, faculty, staff and alumni.

• First Place in Publication Regularly Edited by Entrant — Magazine/Magapaper for ReView Magazine Spring/Summer 2022
• First Place in Writing — Feature Story — Magazine, Newsletter or Other Publication for "The Case for Mass Timber"
• Third Place in Writing — Personality Profile — More Than 750 Words for "Reflections on a Career & New Photo Book"

First-place winners in the APW communications contest are eligible to advance to the National Federation of Press Women competition if they are members of NFPW. National winners will be announced during the NFPW's annual conference June 22-24 in Cincinnati, Ohio.