NMSU Alamogordo marketing specialist earns three regional awards

WRITER: Chelsea Hayes, chayes12@nmsu.edu

New Mexico State University Alamogordo is celebrating three regional marketing honors from the National Council for Marketing and Public Relations. Chelsea Hayes, marketing communications specialist at NMSU Alamogordo, received the District 4 Rising Star Award and two Bronze Medallion Awards recognizing her creative contributions to the college. 

The Rising Star Award recognizes emerging professionals in community college marketing and public relations who demonstrate professional achievement, creativity and potential for continued success. District recipients also qualify for consideration for NCMPR’s national Rising Star Award. 

As NMSU Alamogordo’s sole full-time marketing professional, Hayes oversees the college’s marketing and communications efforts, including social media, advertising, recruitment campaigns, graphic design, media relations and community outreach. Her work focuses on connecting students with educational opportunities and strengthening the college’s visibility throughout southern New Mexico. 

“Receiving the Rising Star Award is an incredible honor, and I’m truly grateful to be recognized alongside so many talented marketing and communications professionals,” Hayes said. “What makes this recognition especially meaningful is the opportunity I have every day to tell the stories of our students, faculty, and staff at NMSU Alamogordo. I’m passionate about finding creative ways to connect people with the opportunities and resources available at our college. To have that work recognized on a regional level, along with two Medallion Awards, is both humbling and motivating. I’m proud to represent NMSU-A and look forward to continuing to find new ways to showcase the incredible things happening on our campus.” 

Hayes received a Bronze Medallion Award in the computer-generated illustration category for creating Allie, the illustrated character representing NMSU-A’s artificial intelligence chatbot. Developed using ChatGPT’s generative AI capabilities under Hayes’ creative direction, Allie gives the chatbot a recognizable, approachable identity to help students access information and support. 

Her second Bronze Medallion Award, in the video shorts (series) category, recognized “How to Access the Amazon Locker at NMSU-A,” a two-part instructional social media series demonstrating how to locate the campus Amazon Locker and select it as a delivery destination during checkout. The videos generated more than 7,100 views, most from audiences outside the college’s existing social media following. 

The NCMPR Medallion Awards recognize excellence and innovation in community college marketing and communications, including graphic design, digital media, video production and public relations. The awards highlight creative work that helps colleges engage their communities and connect students with educational opportunities.