Higgins, Miller recognized in national communications contest
Division of Agriculture staff members earn honors from national communications organization
By the U of A System Division of Agriculture
June 30, 2023
Fast facts
- Higgins, Miller score placings in national communications contest
- Both had winners at state level
(230 words)
(Newsrooms: with art)
CINCINNATI — Two staffers with the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture came away from the National Federation of Press Women national communication conference with honors.
Kristin Higgins, extension program associate for the Division of Agriculture’s Public Policy Center, scored first place for electronic newsletter discussing Arkansas ballot issues and for her blog about voter turnout in 2022. Higgins’ ballot issues voter outreach has garnered praise from peers in-state.
Fred Miller, science editor in the communications department, won second place for “Entomologist wants to know if invasive mosquitoes, native biting midges make good neighbors,” and honorable mention for “Experiment station researcher in search of a more water-efficient chicken.” Miller covers research topics for the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station.
Mary Hightower, chief communications officer for the Division of Agriculture, was recognized during the awards banquet as the Arkansas Communicator of Achievement. This award, the highest honor bestowed by NFPW, is given to members who have distinguished themselves within and beyond their profession.
The Arkansas affiliate, Arkansas Press Women, was affiliate sweepstakes winner for the number of placings its members had in the national contest. Higgins is president of APW and this month was named board secretary for the National Federation of Press Women.
Both had winning entries at the state level, which were advanced to the national competition.
The NFPW conference was held in Cincinnati on June 22-24.
To learn about extension programs in Arkansas, contact your local Cooperative Extension
Service agent or visit www.uaex.uada.edu. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram at @AR_Extension. To learn more about Division
of Agriculture research, visit the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station website: https://aaes.uada.edu/. Follow us on Twitter at @ArkAgResearch. To learn more about the Division of Agriculture,
visit https://uada.edu/. Follow us on Twitter at @AgInArk.
About the Division of Agriculture
The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture’s mission is to strengthen
agriculture, communities, and families by connecting trusted research to the adoption
of best practices. The Division of Agriculture conducts research and extension work
within the nation’s historic land grant education system through the Agricultural
Experiment Station and the Cooperative Extension Service.
The Division of Agriculture is one of 20 entities within the University of Arkansas
System. It has offices in all 75 counties in Arkansas and faculty on five system campuses.
The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture offers all its Extension
and Research programs to all eligible persons without regard to race, color, sex,
gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, religion, age, disability, marital
or veteran status, genetic information, or any other legally protected status, and
is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer.
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Media contact: Mary Hightower
mhightower@uada.edu