RU Staff Copywriter, Sara Myers, Receives 1st Place in Statewide Writing Contest04/24/2023 10:14 am
By Andrea V. Watson, Director of Marketing & Communications
Rockford University’s Marketing and Communications copywriter, Sara Myers, has been writing and editing for most of her life. That passion and love of storytelling was recently acknowledged when she received a prestigious writing award last month for an article she published in the Beloit Daily News.
Prior to joining RU, Myers worked as a reporter with the Adams Publishing Group, who owns Beloit Daily News. Her story, “Closing the ‘Boyfriend Loophole’ in Gun Law May Impact Domestic Violence,” received First Place in the “Localized National Story” category of the 2022 Wisconsin Newspaper Association’s (WNA) Foundation Better Newspaper Contest. Learn more about her award here.
The judges’ comments were:
“Really great job of presenting the data in a way that is simple to understand. This story was well-researched and incredibly well-written. Although guns being used in homicides more often than any other weapon seems obvious, the writer does a great job of including statistics to drive home the point. Using the local cases along with statewide data really localizes the national issue for the reader. This could be a textbook example for the category. Also, the compelling quote at the end resonates well. Excellent choice for the ending.”
“I was very surprised to hear I won this award,” Myers said. “I want to thank the judges for giving me this honor and thank them for their kind words. I also want to thank my family, friends, past editors (especially Clint Wolf of Beloit Daily News), colleagues, college professors and my boyfriend, Ian for supporting me and my career.”
Myers is a Rockford, Ill. native who said she grew up knowing she wanted to write professionally.
“At the age 14 I was inspired to go into the journalism field after reading magazines like Rolling Stone and Alternative Press,” she said.
Myers attended schools in the Winnebago School District and graduated from Winnebago High School in May of 2013. She graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Platteville in Platteville, Wisconsin with her B.S. in Media Studies, with an emphasis in Journalism and a minor in Public Relations.
Her resume includes an Editor-In-Chief position for her college’s newspaper, a radio DJ, and both editor and multimedia editor roles. Myers has written news and feature articles, as well as produced video content for both editorial and marketing projects.
When she’s not writing professionally, Myers said she enjoys writing songs and poetry. She also spends her free time attending concerts with friends or her boyfriend Ian. Besides loving and listening to music, Myers said she loves spending time with her dog Pearl, and friends and family, especially her new niece, Georgia, who turned 1 in February.
12/14/2022 4:29 pm
07/29/2021 11:01 am
Not enough permissions to view this content.
11/02/2020 5:15 pm
Rockford University Class of 2020,
We want to recognize you in the upcoming issue of our alumni magazine, Catalyst. If you’d like a chance to be featured, please share with us any photos you took of yourself celebrating in your cap and gown. Be sure to include all information requested below so we can recognize you properly.
08/13/2019 4:13 pm
| Standard Projects | Total Business Days | Writing & Design* | Internal Proof | Final Approval | File Prep | Printing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Advertisement (paid) | 16-19 days | 10 days | 3-5 days | 2-3 days | 1 day | N/A |
| Banner/Sign | 24-27 days | 8 days | 3-5 days | 2-3 days | 1 day | 10 days |
| Brochure (tri-fold, no die cuts or perforations) | 36-39 days | 20 days | 3-5 days | 2-3 days | 1 day | 10 days |
| Direct Mail/Postcard | 31-34 days | 15 days | 3-5 days | 2-3 days | 1 day | 10 days |
| Event Program or Multi-page Booklet (standard binding, no die cuts or embellished printing techniques) |
26-29 days | 10 days | 3-5 days | 2-3 days | 1 day | 10 days |
| Note cards/Invitations with Envelopes (no die cuts or embellished printing techniques) |
26-29 days | 10 days | 3-5 days | 2-3 days | 1 day | 10 days |
| Poster/Flyer (no die cuts or embellished printing techniques) |
21-24 days | 10 days | 3-5 days | 2-3 days | 1 day | 5 days |
| Complex Projects | Total Business Days | Writing & Design* | Internal Proof | Final Approval | File Prep | Printing |
| Brochure (non-traditional folds, die cuts and/or perforations) |
44-47 days | 25 days | 3-5 days | 2-3 days | 1 day | 13 days |
| Direct Mail pieces/Postcards (series of) |
44-47 days | 25 days | 3-5 days | 2-3 days | 1 day | 13 days |
| Event Program or Multi-page Booklet (non-traditional binding, die cuts and/or embellished printing techniques) |
34-37 days | 15 days | 3-5 days | 2-3 days | 1 day | 13 days |
| Note cards/Invitations with Envelopes (die cuts and/or embellished printing techniques) |
34-37 days | 15 days | 3-5 days | 2-3 days | 1 day | 13 days |
| Standard Project | Total Business Days | Writing & Design* | Internal Proof | Final Approval | File Prep |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Email Communication (on campus) |
10-13 days | 5 days | 3-5 days | 2-3 days | N/A |
| Social Media | 8-11 days | 3 days | 3-5 days | 2-3 days | N/A |
| Webpage Edit (small change) | 7-10 days | 2 days | 3-5 days | 2-3 days | N/A |
| Complex Project | Total Business Days | Writing & Design* | Internal Proof | Final Approval | File Prep |
| Email Communication (off campus) |
15-18 days | 10 days | 3-5 days | 2-3 days | N/A |
| Videography | 36-49 days | 30-40 days | 3-5 days | 2-3 days | 1 day |
| Website Content (create/layout new content for 1-3 pages) |
15-23 days | 10-15 days | 3-5 days | 2-3 days | N/A |
| Total Business Days | Scheduling | Upload | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Professional Photographer (budget required) |
12-13 days | 10 days | 2-3 days |
| Campus Photographer | 7-8 days | 5 days | 2-3 days |
| Total Business Days | Writing | Internal Proof | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Media (Press Release) | 7-8 days | 6-7 days | 1 days |
*If needed and upon receiving content, outlines or information.
08/13/2019 3:55 pm
Not enough permissions to view this content.
07/15/2019 4:38 pm
As a team member, you play an active role in the development of your project. You know your goals and audience better than anyone else, and we depend on you to communicate whom you’re trying to reach and what you want your project to achieve.
In turn, our role is to tailor the message to your audience by creating an effective end-product on time and within your budget.
Recognizing these roles and following through on responsibilities is key to the success of each project.
Your role/responsibilities as a client:
Marketing & Communication’s role/responsibilities:
07/15/2019 3:59 pm
The Office of Marketing and Communications offers services to campus clients in the following areas:
|
|
Please send project requests to communications@rockford.edu.
ATTENTION FACULTY/STAFF: To report a broken link or a 404 error, please fill out this form.
Q: What size does a portal banner need to be?
A: 1300 x 615px
Q: What size do RU Stream banners need to be?
A: 1920 x 950px
*The Marketing/Communications team approve portal and stream banners. Any questions on banners can be sent to Sara Myers-Hogshead (shogshead@rockford.edu) and/or Kayla Eddy (keddy@rockford.edu).
**Please submit your banner ONLY two weeks before your event date. Please note to keep important info away from the bottom as they get cut off depending on the size of the monitor.
To request to post a portal banner or RU stream banner, go here.
Marketing & Communications
Rockford University
5050 E. State Street
Rockford, IL 61108
Communications@rockford.eduKayla Eddy, Marketing Coordinator
keddy@rockford.edu
815-394-5041
With extensive experience in both print and digital media, we collaborate with all campus offices and departments to help achieve their marketing and communication goals.
We concept, plan, write, design, and execute materials and communication that reaches out to internal and external audiences; elevates awareness of the University; attracts people to events; and delivers important information effectively and creatively through articulating and implementing Rockford University’s branding initiatives. When a project demands expertise or equipment beyond what’s available on campus, we coordinate with outside vendors and consultants to complete your project.
Due to a large volume of requests, we must receive all materials for your project at least six weeks prior to the date of your project or event. For smaller projects and updates we request a two-week lead time. This will help us to prioritize and schedule various on-going communications accordingly.
*View industry standards for project lead times
To submit a request, please email Sara at shogshead@rockford.edu or Kayla at keddy@rockford.edu.
Please understand that emailing us does not guarantee that a webpage, publication, or a photographer will be available. We are happy to work with you to find the best solutions to meet your goals.
11/02/2018 2:53 pm
The Marketing and Communications department works with our colleagues across campus to aggregate, curate, and steward the Rockford University brand.
Per the Rockford University Brand Standards Guide, any marketing projects intended for off-campus audiences must be reviewed and approved by the Marketing department before distribution.
The official logo of Rockford University represents our entire institution and is the foundation of our visual brand identity. Because our logo is central to our identity, its integrity and value is of upmost importance. Therefore, the following guidelines must be followed in order for our institution to receive strong brand recognition throughout the world.
The Marketing department uses two main typefaces in marketing materials: Akzidenz-Grotesk and Bebas Neue. Bebas Neue is reserved for headlines and subheadings, while Akzidenz-Grotesk (regular weight) is used for copy and bodies of text.
Because not every department on campus has access to Bebas Neue or Akzidenz-Grotesk, the following options for fonts are acceptable.
Our primary colors are Purple (Pantone 2104) and White. However, we also have an extended palette of secondary colors to use throughout our Rock Solid marketing campaign. When printing materials, please use the CMYK color codes. RGB and Web color codes may be used for online and electronic materials. In order to build a consistent brand presence for the University, it is imperative that only approved colors are used whenever presenting the Rockford University logo; the logo may only be used in Purple (Pantone 266 or CMYK 79, 90, 0, 0), White, or Black.
One of our most powerful tools to communicate our brand is our use of images. We strive to create compelling, emotional, and authentic images for all of our marketing pieces. Our use of imagery is strategic and connects our advertising collateral to each other. Throughout the academic year, the Marketing department will schedule photo shoots of students, employees, and alumni.
In addition, we will also utilize photos taken by departments and other individuals from our campus community. A photo and video release form is located on the Marketing page of the Rockford University Portal site. Please use it to obtain permission from people, both on campus and off campus, who are subjects of any pictures you or your department take. Once the form is signed, please send it to the Marketing department, so we can archive it in our files.
We have a gallery of general campus photos for our campus partners.
Department Menu -
Marketing & Communications
Rockford University
5050 E. State Street
Rockford, IL 61108
Communications@rockford.eduKayla Eddy, Marketing Coordinator
keddy@rockford.edu
815-394-5041
11/02/2018 2:52 pm
The Marketing and Communications department works with our colleagues across campus to aggregate, curate, and steward the Rockford University brand and elevate the contributions of our campus community to both internal and external audiences, including students, faculty and staff, trustees, donors, the media and the general public.
As your strategic marketing partner, we provide our campus community with a variety of services. Our in-house team of creative professionals will work with you to tailor our services to help you in the most cost-effective, efficient, and convenient manner.
Submit your events at the link below to publish them on the public-facing campus events calendar.
Marketing and Communications is here to promote your events and news to the local media via press releases. Please send your press release request up to four weeks in advance. Press releases will be sent 1-2 times and posted on the website before the event.
All media relations, except for athletic media relations, must go through the Marketing and Communications department. If local media reaches out to you personally, please loop Marketing and Communications in on the conversation via communications@rockford.edu.
Rockford University has official social media accounts on the following platforms: Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, TikTok, and YouTube. If you would like to submit something to be added to the social media calendar, please send all information to keddy@rockford.edu up to four weeks in advance. The social media calendar is typically created a month in advance. Want to collaborate on content? Email keddy@rockford.edu.
Clubs and departments are welcome to create their own social media pages on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, or TikTok. Before creating a page you must reach out to Marketing and Communications at keddy@rockford.edu for approval. The log-in information must be stored by Marketing and Communications to avoid the account being lost when students graduate or faculty/staff retire.
Want Reggie to personally visit your upcoming event? Email RU Marketing and Communications at communications@rockford.edu.
Merit is a media platform that helps RU publish online news about student accomplishments through students’ hometown newspapers and via social media. News can also be shared with students’ high schools and elected officials. RU proudly shares their good news on our Rockford University Merit page and our Student Achievements- Merit page.
Marketing & Communications
Rockford University
5050 E. State Street
Rockford, IL 61108
Communications@rockford.eduKayla Eddy, Marketing Coordinator
keddy@rockford.edu
815-394-5041
Per the Rockford University Brand Standards Guide, any marketing projects intended for off-campus audiences must be reviewed and approved by the Marketing department before distribution. Please note, the Marketing/Communications staff in this guide is now incorrect. You can find a list of our current team here.
Dear Members of the Rockford University Community, Due to the anticipated severe cold weather on Friday, January 23, 2026, Rockford University will be closed. All classes, including evening classes, will transition to virtual learning. Academic Instruction Faculty are...
On Saturday, October 25, students from Rockford University’s Kinesiology Senior Seminar class will host a free youth baseball/softball camp on RU’s new turf baseball and softball fields. Beginning at 9:30 a.m., the camp will focus on skills such as throwing, fielding,...
Students from Rockford University are excited to announce their senior seminar project, Surf, Set, Save, a community-driven sports equipment donation event taking place on Friday, October 24th, during the Hawaiian Themed volleyball game. The initiative encourages...
