CALS External Relations won first place in the 2025 National Agricultural Alumni Development Association (NAADA) Publication and Project Competition Awards. The team received the award for their work on Plant Adoption Day, a welcome week event at Allen Centennial Garden where students can take home a plant at no cost. More than 1000 students attended the event during fall 2024 welcome week.

Nicole Lederich, marketing associate director, and Jori Skalitzky, communications specialist, created the promotional materials, from signage and handouts to a social media plan and the materials students received including stickers and a bookmark with care instructions for their new plant. Promotions leading up to the adoption day highlighted the event, campus resources and CALS majors and classes.

The award recognizes the creativity and impact of higher education institutions and celebrates outstanding work in communications, alumni engagement and student outreach. It was presented at NAADA’s annual conference hosted by Purdue University in June 2025. The contest receives entries from higher education agriculture institutions.