San Joaquin Delta College earned its first national marketing award this week, thanks to what judges called a “fresh” and “clever” design to the college’s 2017 Commencement Program.

The prestigious Paragon Awards is given by the National Council for Marketing and Public Relations (NCMPR) to recognize outstanding achievement in design and communication at community and technical colleges. It's the only national competition of its kind that honors excellence exclusively among marketing and PR professionals at two-year colleges.

NCMPR received over 1,900 entries from colleges across North America for the various awards categories. Delta College garnered first place in the specialty publication category.

The award comes as Delta steps up efforts to spread the word about the high quality and low cost of its programs. The winning entry also showcased the college’s refreshed brand identity, including a reinvented and updated college logo.

“It is a great honor to be recognized nationally for the work that we do to promote Delta College,” said Delta’s Marketing, Communications and Outreach Director Shelly Valenton. “Just last year, we received three marketing awards at the state level and that was wonderful, considering that Delta’s marketing department was only starting out. A national recognition affirms that we are on the right track in our efforts to boost Delta College’s position as the smart choice for our current and potential students.”

Tim Huynh, Delta’s graphic design and marketing coordinator, designed the winning piece in collaboration with the commencement planning team and Delta’s Publication Center. Huynh is a Delta College graduate who discovered his passion for graphic design while attending the college. Now he is back as a seasoned professional, inspiring the next generation of Delta grads with a program design that judges praised for its “great graphics, a fresh approach and clever detail.” Among other things about the 44-page commencement program, the judges noted how it included the word “congratulations” in multiple languages.

The 2017 Commencement Program can be viewed here.