Fresno State President John D. Welty was honored Friday, May 10, as Executive of the Year by the Central California chapter of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA).

The chapter presented eight awards to Fresno State’s Office of University Communications team and three awards to the Fresno State Alumni Association for work completed in 2012, during its Image Awards luncheon Friday, May 10.

Welty, who retires July 31, was cited for fostering ongoing community dialogue, open communication and availability for media interviews since arriving at Fresno State in 1991.

The Fresno State Re-Branding Campaign, coordinated by the Office of University Communications in conjunction with the university’s Integrated Marketing and Communications Council, was named Campaign of the Year.

The University Communications team also won Awards of Excellence for:

  • Magazine – FresnoState Magazine. Lanny Larson and Lindsey Burgess, editors.
  • Brochure – Self-Guided Madden Library Tour. Todd Graves, design. Cary Edmondson, photography.
  • Brochure – Economic Impact. Todd Graves, design.
  • Video – Fresno State institutional ad, “Success.” Kathleen Schock, producer.
  • Newsletter – Leadership Link. Shirley Armbruster and Angel Langridge, producers.
  • News release – “President Welty announces retirement.” Armbruster, writer.

Awards of Merit were presented to University Communications for Electronic Communications – University Journal, April Schulthies, editor; and Web – Student Affairs Website, Web Communications staff.

The Fresno State Alumni Association team won an Award of Excellence in the Annual Report category for the 2011-12 Bulldog Pride Fund Annual Report of Donors, produced by Peter Robertson.

Awards of Merits were presented in the brochure category for the Parent-Alumni Weekend brochure (design by Todd Graves) and in the poster category for the 2012-13 Bulldog Pride Fund scholars’ poster (photography and design by Peter Robertson).

The Image Awards are produced annually by the Central California Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America and recognize works of distinction by public relations professionals in the Central Valley.

The Image Awards program takes entries from throughout the chapter’s service area in Fresno, Kern, Kings, Madera, Mariposa, Merced, Tulare and San Luis Obispo counties. Entries were judged by members from another PRSA chapter.