NDSU communicators were honored at the Sept. 20-22 National Federation of Press Women conference in Scottsdale, Ariz.

Ellen Crawford, Agriculture Communication information specialist, was honored as one of 10 nominees for the Communicator of Achievement award. She represented North Dakota Professional Communicators in the national competition. Communicator of Achievement is the National Federation of Press Women’s highest honor. Crawford serves as treasurer for both organizations.

Also at the conference, communications awards were presented to:

Crawford – second in news reporting in a publication/magazine for general or specialized circulation for articles on the NDSU Extension Service’s Rural Leadership North Dakota and farm/ranch transition planning programs

Becky Koch, Agriculture Communication director – first in website development: not-for-profit, government or educational for the NDSU Extension Service flood website; first in PowerPoint for the Extension Disaster Education Network Family Preparedness educational program; first in four-color magapaper/tabloid for the Livestock and Land Stewardship Ag Mag; first in electronic manuals and handbooks for the Extension Disaster Education Network Family Preparedness educational program leaders guide

Carol Renner, Research, Creative Activities and Technology Transfer communications manager – honorable mention in single news release for revolutionary biobased resins made from North Dakota crop materials, covering the research team led by Dean Webster, chair of coatings and polymeric materials; second in single feature release for research on sweets and personality by Michael D. Robinson, professor of psychology.

NDSU is recognized as one of the nation's top 108 public and private universities by the Carnegie Commission on Higher Education.