For the third-straight year, public relations students from the College of Communications were awarded a Hermes Creative Award in the Pro Bono category. This year, students won for a campaign conducted last spring titled “Improving Happiness in Happy Valley.”

The class, COMM 473 Public Relations Campaigns, was headed by Marcia DiStaso, an associate professor in the Department of Advertising/Public Relations, and included 20 students.

The public relations campaign included a telephone survey with Centre County residents to identify their happiness and satisfaction with the area. Students then set out to improve happiness with a “Happy in Happy Valley” community event at Tom Tudek Park that included activities and entertainment for all ages and aimed to celebrate and generate happiness in the area. The students worked in teams with multiple nonprofit organizations in the county, banks, the police, and local government.

“This was a great experience for the students that led to a big benefit for our clients,” said DiStaso. “It was especially enjoyable to help bring happiness to Centre County residents and get recognized for our efforts in a competition against public relations professionals from around the world.”

According to research by Movoto Real Estate, State College, Pennsylvania, was ranked No. 1 on a list of “The 10 Happiest Small Places in America,” on Sept. 1, 2014.

According to its website, the Hermes Creative Awards is an international competition for creative professionals involved in the concept, writing and design of traditional materials and programs, and emerging technologies. Entries come from corporate marketing and communication departments, advertising agencies, public relations firms, graphic design shops, production companies, web and digital creators and freelancers.

This year’s Gold Award complements the Platinum Hermes Creative Awards earned by students in 2013 and 2014.