Four members of the Virginia Press Women (VPW) and one retired university employee won several categories in the 2007 VPW contest.

They are: Clara Cox of Blacksburg, director of university publications; Heather Riley Chadwick of Blacksburg, public relations manager, College of Architecture and Urban Studies; Lynn Nystrom of Christiansburg, director of news and external relations for the College of Engineering, and Susan Trulove of Pulaski County, communications manager of the research division, Mary Ann Johnson of Blacksburg, retired from the University Relations Office, also earned honors.

Nystrom received four first place awards. They were for public relations information for the media in the single press release news category for "Virginia Tech announces an alliance with Fujitsu and Microsoft;" press release information for the media using multiple releases in "Accomplished young alumna once told she would never succeed in engineering," and "New E-textiles grown in makeshift washing machine;" for her faculty adviser role of the student engineering magazine, "Engineers' Forum;" and special articles on science, ecology, environment, energy for her stories titled "Virginia Tech engineers have developed technology to monitor and secure the electric power grid," and "Look Out, NASCAR drivers--the racetrack may switch to autonomous vehicles." Nystrom also received a second place for printed materials four-color brochure for "Engineering Now." Nystrom received a third place for news reporting, general or specialized publication for "If a package stinks, it belongs to me."

Cox received two first place awards. They were for printed materials for direct mail marketing for "Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets Postcard Book," and for printed materials for a four-color brochure "Hokie, Hokie, Hokie, Hy! and a few other Virginia Tech symbols and traditions." Cox received second place for internal communications programs and campaigns for "Images of Virginia Tech: A postcard book." Cox also received second place for communications programs and campaigns marketing program for service or product for "The Arts @ Virginia Tech."

Trulove received second place for special articles on science, ecology, environment, energy for "A culture of research builds on Southside resources," and "Getting inside your head;" third place for printed materials for a four-color magazine for "Virginia Tech Research;" and honorable mention for information for the media single release news for "Possible evidence of cell division, differentiation found in oldest known embryo fossils."

Chadwick received a first place for individual achievement in "Extreme Makeover Home Edition--Virginia Tech Project." Chadwick also received second place for printed materials for her electronic annual report for Virginia Tech's College of Architecture and Urban Studies and for the printed materials catalogue "Virginia Tech College of Architecture and Urban Studies--Faculty Symposium Catalog."

Johnson received a third place in communications programs and campaigns for "Wilderness Road Chorus."

All first place awards are now in competition at the national level.

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