An article in the Spring 2012 issue of One College Avenue, the magazine of Pennsylvania College of Technology, received a Silver Award in the sixth annual CUPPIE Awards competition, sponsored by CUPRAP-The Association of Communicators in Education.
The article, “As He Sees Fit,” written by Tom Wilson, writer/editor of PCToday, profiles Domenick S. Schiraldi-Irrera, a part-time personal trainer, who holds Penn College degrees in physical fitness specialist and applied health studies.
Schiraldi-Irrera, who has since enrolled in a master's program at Bloomsburg University, turned an adolescent injury into a wake-up call to better health. Through his down-to-earth inspiration, his clients at the Penn College Fitness Center find the internal motivation for exercise and nutrition.
The article is accompanied by a brief “sidebar” story, “A Healthy Wildcat Is a Happy Wildcat,” written by Deborah K. Peters, graphic designer, about a group on campus promoting health and wellness.
Wilson is a three-time award recipient in the CUPPIES, having taken Bronze Awards in 2012 and 2009. All three honors came in the Feature Article category of the competition.
In 2012, Wilson was honored for “True Blue,” in which he profiled John R. Greenwood, a former captain of the Wildcat cross-country team who underwent heart transplant surgery shortly after graduating from Penn College.
In the 2009, he took bronze for “Hearing the Voice Within,” which profiled Travis J. Clawson, student speaker for Penn College’s December 2007 commencement ceremony. Deaf since birth, Clawson also served as a tutor to fellow classmates.
“In this latest award-winning feature, Tom does a wonderful job of capturing the can-do spirit and inspirational character of Domenick Schiraldi-Irrera,” said Joseph S. Yoder, public information director. “In One College Avenue, we strive to provide recognition for students, alumni, faculty and staff who have intriguing stories to tell. Being honored for that effort by an organization like CUPRAP is a bonus.”
Wilson serves as editor of the college’s news-and-information website, PCToday, www.pct.edu/pctoday. He has been employed at the college since 1999. Previously, he worked as city editor for the Williamsport Sun-Gazette. He is a 1979 journalism graduate of Penn State.
The CUPPIES are presented for creative excellence in marketing and communications. Each category is judged by a panel of senior-level industry experts.
Founded in 1980, CUPRAP is an organization of communications professionals from colleges, universities and independent schools in Pennsylvania and surrounding states. The organization has nearly 400 members from 100 institutions who work in public relations, media relations, marketing, publications, sports information, and web and graphic design.
The One College Avenue website is www.pct.edu/oca.
For more about Penn College, visit www.pct.edu, email admissions@pct.edu or call 800-367-9222.