National Marketing Council Honors Cape Fear Community College at Annual Conference

March 31, 2026

 

Three women stand outdoors on a sunlit walkway, smiling and facing the camera while holding clear glass award trophies. Behind them are blooming trees and a residential-style building with balconies, softly out of focus. The woman on the left wears a green dress with white polka dots, the woman in the center wears a blue patterned blouse, and the woman on the right wears a black top with a striped skirt.

Members of CFCC’s Community Relations Team hold the Paragon awards. Pictured left to right: Julie Martin (Social Media and Communications Manager), Tammy McKenzie (Graphic Design Manager), and Kim Bender (Marketing Manager).

Wilmington, NC (March 31, 2026) – Cape Fear Community College was honored at the 2025 Paragon Awards from the National Council for Marketing and Public Relations (NCMPR) at the council’s national conference in March in Washington, D.C. The College’s Community Relations Team was awarded in the following categories:

  • Gold Paragon for Social Media Video: A TikTok video featuring May 2025 graduates sharing what they wanted to be when they grew up compared to what they’re becoming after graduation that went viral, garnering over 2 million views, 256.3K likes, nearly 2,700 shares, and more than 15,400 saves.
  • Gold Paragon for Television Paid Advertisement: CFCC’s Spring 2025 commercial “What Drives You” features several programs, student activities, and athletics.
  • Silver Paragon for Outdoor Signage/Displays: The CFCC Trade Up advertising campaign focused on the new Cape Fear 4Careers initiative, highlighting in-demand trade programs.

“These national awards reflect the creativity, talent, and strategic vision of our Community Relations team,” said Jim Morton, CFCC President. “Their work captures the momentum of our college and showcases the opportunities available to our students and our community, in meaningful and engaging ways. We are proud to see their efforts recognized on a national stage and to celebrate the impact they make in connecting our college with the community we serve.”

NCMPR’s Paragon Awards recognize outstanding achievement in design, strategy, and communication at community and technical colleges. It’s the only national competition of its kind that honors excellence exclusively among marcom and public relations professionals at community and technical colleges.

This year’s awards drew 1,585 entries from 216 colleges across the country and were judged by 67 professionals from the marketing, communications, and public relations industries.

To learn more about Cape Fear Community College, visit www.cfcc.edu .

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