Fort Hays State University
A strategic communication campaign developed by three Fort Hays State University (FHSU) students has earned second place in the Kansas Professional Communicators 2025 Communications Contest for “Video for Web, Nonprofit (Group).”
The award-winning project was created in the spring 2024 Strategic Campaign Design and Analysis class, taught by Dr. Hsin-Yen Yang, a professor in the Department of Communication Studies, Law, and Political Science at FHSU. The video project was guided and facilitated by Andy Tincknell, Coordinator of Learning Commons at FHSU’s Forsyth Library.
The winning students, all communication majors with an emphasis in public relations and advertising, are:
• Ashtyn Butler of Albert
• Allison Hillebrand of Hays, who is dual majoring in Communications (public relations and advertising concentration) and English (writing concentration)
• Carley Norton of Minneola
Their campaign was designed to support Jana’s Campaign in celebrating its significant milestone of reaching 100,000 K-12 students with relationship violence prevention education.
Carley Norton shared her profound experience with the project, stating, “The opportunity to work with a real organization and put my skills to use on a more meaningful scale was already an invaluable and unforgettable experience as a student. Working with Jana's Campaign, however, changed my outlook on the public relations industry and has inspired me to pursue nonprofit PR in the future. Jana's Campaign truly opened my eyes to the scale of and stigma around relationship and sexual violence.”
Norton further elaborated on their creative approach: “My group and I wanted to take a more emotional approach to our campaign after we were completely absorbed by Jana and her story. Knowing it would have a similar effect on the audience, we used as much real personal material as we could, from pictures to quotes to voice recordings that best showcased Jana's personality and the journey her family took to form the organization.
"Then, an element of surprise is unveiled when pictures from the domestic violence awareness assemblies pop up, showing how one family sparked passion throughout the nation and successfully reached 100,000 students. Finally, a recording of Jana herself perfectly encapsulates the impact of Jana's Campaign: ‘It's gonna be bigger than anything that's ever happened before!’ And they are on track to achieve just that.”
Reflecting on her overall FHSU experience, Norton added, “My time at FHSU is marked by lifelong relationships with classmates turned friends and professors turned mentors, thanks to the small class sizes and community-building traditions that allowed for vast personal attention and growth.
"I gained universal experience and knowledge from people from all over the world, and I feel not only prepared but ahead of the game as I navigate my career post-grad.”
Dr. Yang emphasized the value of service learning and experiential learning in her curriculum, stating, “At Fort Hays State University, our Department of Communication Studies, Law, and Political Science is dedicated to fostering innovative and socially conscious communicators. Through programs like our public relations and advertising concentration, we equip students with the practical skills and ethical understanding to make a tangible difference in the world.
"This state-wide recognition is a testament to the talent of our students and the effectiveness of our commitment to experiential learning, preparing graduates who are not just career-ready but also community-minded leaders.”
About Jana’s Campaign
Jana’s Campaign is a national education and violence prevention organization with the single mission of reducing relationship violence. In honor of the late Jana Mackey and other victims and survivors of relationship violence, Jana’s Campaign delivers educational programs that prevent domestic and dating violence, sexual violence, and stalking.
About Kansas Professional Communicators
Kansas Professional Communicators is an organization dedicated to promoting high standards in communications, fostering professional development, and protecting the First Amendment.