Consisting of four stations spanning television and radio, the Grand Valley State University-operated public broadcasting group known as WGVU has become the recipient of some highly desirable awards.

WGVU has received three respective awards from the 2010 MarCom Awards’ international awards competition, including a Platinum Award in the category of Brochure for its “WGVU Showplace Guide,” an Honorable Mention in the category of Brochure for “WGVU – LZ Michigan Program” and a Gold Award in the category of Marketing/Promotion Campaign/Special Event for its piece, “LZ Michigan.”

This year’s competition saw almost 5,000 entries from throughout the United States, Canada and other countries. MarCom Awards promote “outstanding creative achievement by marketing and communication professionals,” according to a press release.

“MarCom entries come from corporate marketing and communication departments, advertising agencies, PR firms, design shops, production companies and freelancers,” said Ed Dalheim, director of MarCom Awards. “The competition has grown to perhaps the largest of its kind in the world. A look at the winners shows a range in size from individual communicators to media conglomerates and Fortune 500 companies.”

Winners are chosen from more than 200 different categories, spanning seven different forms of media: marketing, publications, marketing/promotion, public service/pro bono, creativity and electronic/interactive. Only 15 percent of entries win Platinum Awards, the competition’s top honor, while another 15 percent win Gold Awards, the second tier of awards.

“Winning this MarCom award, or any award, is a wonderful validation from the marketing and communications professionals that judge these entries, as to the caliber and quality of the work that the WGVU staff creates,” said Michael Walenta, general manager for WGVU. “The level of pride on behalf of the entire staff is overwhelming.”

Administered by the Association of Marketing and Communicaton Professionals, the MarCom Awards are just one part of a much broader picture painted by the company.

“As part of its mission, AMCP fosters and supports the efforts of creative professionals who contribute their unique talents to public service and charitable organizations,” Dalheim said. “Over the past several years, AMCP’s Advisory Board donated over $60,000 in grants to support the efforts of its members. That money was used for marketing materials for homeless shelters, orphanages, day camps, community theaters, art centers, programs for the elderly and for child care and educational endeavors for the underprivileged.”

This only adds to the weight of being a recipient of one of these awards, said Timothy Eernisse, development and marketing manger for WGVU.

“It’s an amazing honor, one that spans just being rewarded for your hard work,” he said. “We all have worked night and day to make the absolute best possible product for our viewers and listeners, and it is a really great and amazing honor to be rewarded for our work.”

WGVU is a public broadcasting service, which means while it may be good news to receive awards, the funding still comes from the public it serves.

“With each donation, you are subject to be given a special gift,” Dalheim said. “Take now Platinum Award winning Showplace for example. With any donation of $50 or more, you will receive a year-long subscription to this award winning publication. Not only that, but you’ll help us continue to bring you the highest quality radio and television that we possibly can.”

For more information, or to make a donation, visit www.wgvu.org.

[email protected]