SUU Earns Four Top Honors at Utah PRSA Golden Spike Awards Gala
Published: December 19, 2025 | Author: Brooke Heath | Read Time: 3 minutes
CEDAR CITY, Utah — Southern Utah University's commitment to outstanding communication and storytelling was celebrated as the University recently took home four prestigious awards, including three Golden Spike Awards and the Mid-Level Professional of the Year Award, at the Utah Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) chapter’s annual Golden Spike Awards Gala.
"We are incredibly proud of our teams and the dedication they show every day in telling the SUU story," said University President Mindy Benson. "These awards highlight the high-quality, impactful, and professional work being done to engage our community, honor cultural partnerships, and elevate the University's profile statewide."
Mid-Level Professional of the Year
The gala began with celebrating individual achievements, including honoring Haley Webster as the 2025 Mid-Level Professional of the Year. Webster, a dedicated storyteller at SUU, was recognized for bringing visual clarity, warmth, and purpose to the messages she creates. She leads communication strategy for major statewide events, including the Governor’s One Utah Summit and the Larry H. Miller Utah Summer Games, shaping digital narratives that create meaningful, memorable experiences. Guided by a people-first philosophy, Webster is known for her focus on understanding and inspiring audiences.
Golden Spike Award Winners
SUU and its partners were also recognized with Golden Spike Awards for excellence across three key categories.
Research
The Paiute Indian Tribe of Utah & SUU were recognized for their research project, Paiute Willow Basket: Gathering and Weaving a Story of Resilience, the first comprehensive study of the Tribe in over 50 years. Co-designed using Indigenous research methods to prioritize Tribal voices, the study documents a narrative of profound resilience, highlighting dramatic gains in education, healthcare access, and a 129% increase in Tribal enrollment since 1968. These findings now provide a culturally grounded roadmap for the Tribe’s strategic planning, ensuring that future growth in workforce development, and social and health services remains community-led and honors the legacy of the Nung’wu people.
Social Media, External & Internal Audiences
SUU’s Regional Services Office received the Golden Spike for their One Utah Summit 2025 Social Media Strategy where the team reimagined social media as a storytelling platform rather than traditional marketing. Aligning with Governor Cox’s “People, Place, Prosperity” vision, the campaign promoted the statewide event for leaders while inviting others to belong and be part of the conversation of what Utah’s future looks like. The result was strong engagement, growing audiences, and a dynamic digital movement supporting the Summit.
Videos, Internal & External Audiences
Southern Utah University’s Marketing Communication Office was awarded a Golden Spike for its efforts in video production for the project, “Soaring Over SUU: An Epic Drone Tour of Southern Utah University.” Recognizing that prospective students engage with video content 80% more than static ads, the university developed this signature piece to visually capture its distinctive location, personalized learning environment, and vibrant campus life.
About Southern Utah University
Southern Utah University is a caring campus community where students realize their potential through personalized mentorship from people dedicated to help them soar. Offering a wide range of undergraduate, graduate, and certificate programs, SUU provides hands-on, career-focused learning to prepare students for the future. Located in the world’s best backyard, SUU’s safe and vibrant campus offers a welcoming atmosphere where everyone feels supported and inspired by both the natural beauty and a strong sense of community. Whether on campus or online, SUU provides an education that is competitively priced and highly valued, giving students the skills and confidence to thrive in any professional setting. This is where students soar.
Tags: Community and Professional Development Community
Contact Information:
Brooke Heath
435-586-5400
brookeheath1@suu.edu