MiraCosta College received three 2025 Paragon Awards from the National Council for Marketing & Public Relations (NCMPR) at the council’s national conference in March in Washington, D.C., placing its Public Information Office among the top marketing and communications teams at community colleges across the country.

The college earned two Gold awards and one Bronze award across highly competitive categories:

The Paragon Awards recognize outstanding achievement in design, strategy, and communication at community and technical colleges. It is the only national competition of its kind that exclusively honors marketing and public relations professionals in the two-year college sector.

This year’s competition drew 1,585 entries from 216 colleges across the United States and Canada and was judged by 67 marketing and public relations professionals, underscoring the scale and competitiveness of the recognition.

For MiraCosta’s Public Information Office, the recognition reflects a consistent approach to strategic storytelling. Each campaign is designed to do more than inform. It is built to support enrollment, strengthen community connection, and highlight student success in ways that resonate with different audiences.

The 90th Anniversary campaign was recognized for its integrated strategy and execution. The campaign brought together digital content, print materials, and on-campus experiences to celebrate MiraCosta’s legacy while reinforcing its forward direction. It engaged students, alumni, employees, and the broader community through a unified narrative.

The Transforming Lives publication focused on student and alumni voices, highlighting stories of access, persistence, and achievement. Through intentional editorial storytelling and design, the publication positioned MiraCosta as a driver of opportunity and upward mobility.

The Social Media Swag Drop on Instagram campaign introduced a more interactive approach. Designed to meet audiences where they are, the campaign encouraged participation, expanded reach, and strengthened school pride through user-driven engagement and creative digital execution.

“Behind every enrollment milestone, retention gain, and student success story is a team of marketing and communications professionals working strategically and creatively to connect students with opportunity,” said Patrick Stone, NCMPR’s 2025–26 president and director of strategic communications and marketing for Cape Cod Community College in Massachusetts. “This year’s winners stood out in an extraordinary field of entries, demonstrating that when community colleges invest in creativity and innovation, they amplify their mission and transform lives.”

Entries in the Paragon Awards are evaluated based on strategy, creativity, execution, and measurable results. MiraCosta’s winning submissions demonstrated clear alignment between campaign goals and outcomes, including audience engagement, brand visibility, and institutional impact.

NCMPR supports the professional development of community college communicators, serving more than 1,500 members from more than 400 colleges across the United States and Canada. It is one of the largest affiliates of the American Association of Community Colleges and is based in Albuquerque, New Mexico.