Forum Communications Earns Top Honors in Hermes Creative Awards Competition for Piedmont University Marketing Campaign

For the third time for its Piedmont University marketing efforts, Forum Communications earned a top award in the Hermes Creative Awards Competition.

A woman-owned full-service marketing agency, Forum Communications earned platinum honors for the “Be a Lion. Not a number.” campaign in the Integrated Marketing Campaign category on behalf of Piedmont University. Administered by the Association of Marketing and Communication Professionals (AMCP), this annual, international competition is one of the largest and most respected evaluators of creative work in the marketing and communication industry.

The “Be a Lion”campaign features real Piedmont students expressing their experiences in their own words. Rather than more scripted messaging or sit-down style interviews, Forum asked students what it meant to be a Piedmont Lion. The campaign reflects the student experience as well as the personalized education and opportunities students receive by being a Piedmont student.

“Forum Communications has been a valuable partner and agency of record for Piedmont University over the past four years,” said Marshall M. Criser, III, president of Piedmont University. “Our new messaging and renewed focus on students, retention and success after graduation are reflected in these promotional efforts.”

“This year’s campaign is our best yet,” said Zackary Hoopaugh, director of marketing at Piedmont University. “Our campaign was built to garner attention when compared to other institutions whose campaigns can appear overly focused on the institution rather than the student. We accomplished that goal with a set of beautifully vibrant ads that tell the Piedmont story.”

“In years past, our focus was the student-faculty relationship. This year’s ‘Be a Lion. Not a number.' campaign made the student the center of the campaign,” said Kathryn Price, creative director at Forum. “These lively ads lean into Piedmont’s bright color palette and featured some of Piedmont’s best students. The campaign shows the spirit of camaraderie, friendship, and experience that all Piedmont students receive.”

This is the third award and second platinum award from the Hermes Creative Awards won through the partnership of Forum Communications and Piedmont University.

“Truly, brand messaging is about telling the truth in a simple way. Piedmont University provides personalized experiences and opportunities for its students,” said Nick Kastner, director of brand and digital strategy at Forum Communications and a Piedmont alumnus. “This year’s campaign communicated this truth clearly. We are honored to work with great clients such as Piedmont and blessed to be recognized for this achievement.”

About Forum Communications

Forum Communications, based in Gainesville, Georgia, is a full-service marketing agency that helps clients find their voice in a crowded marketplace. Forum Communications offers services ranging from brand and creative communications planning, marketing strategy, and graphic and web design services. Since its inception, Forum has worked with 300+ clients across more than 40 industries while more than 90% of those clients have remained as clients or have returned for additional projects. Learn more at forumspeaks.com.

About Piedmont University

Founded in 1897, Piedmont University is a private, comprehensive liberal arts institution offering a personalized higher education experience focused on student success, academic achievement, and professional development. Offering a variety of career-oriented majors in the arts and sciences, business, education, and nursing, Piedmont’s supportive learning environment is defined by small class sizes, with a 12:1 ratio, that allow students to create meaningful relationships with their professors, classmates, and the campus community. Piedmont’s idyllic, 390-acre residential campus is nestled in the foothills of the north Georgia mountains, with a satellite campus situated in the heart of downtown Athens. For more, please visit www.piedmont.edu, or follow us on Facebook and Twitter/X.