The Texas A&M AgriLife Marketing and Communications team won 16 awards at the annual Association for Communication Excellence, ACE, conference June 15-17 in Billings, Montana.
ACE is an association of communication professionals at public and land-grant universities throughout the United States and in similar institutions in other nations. The ACE’s Critique and Awards Program recognizes those who have done an outstanding job in their field of communications.
“Our marketing and communications team is aggressively showing the Texas A&M AgriLife brand as authentically as possible,” said Katherine Hancock, assistant vice chancellor for marketing and communications for Texas A&M AgriLife. “We’re proud to help position Texas A&M AgriLife as a national model, recognized by these awards. I’m so proud of this team.”
Branded as “Driven by science, communicating for change,” ACE comprises communications professionals working for educational, governmental and research organizations to extend knowledge about agriculture, natural resources, and life and human sciences.
The Texas A&M AgriLife Marketing and Communications unit earned many awards at the annual Association for Communication Excellence conference in Billings, Montana. (Texas A&M AgriLife)
ACE critique and award program winners
In 2026, the Texas A&M AgriLife Marketing and Communications team won 15 awards in the ACE Critique and Awards competition, as well as the Rising Star Award.
Outstanding Professional Skills
Each gold-winning entry is judged a second time against all other gold winners in a category to select that category’s Outstanding Professional Skill, OPS, Award. Texas A&M AgriLife’s Marketing and Communications members brought home two of the 11 OPS awards.
Crisis and Issues Communications
SILVER – Crisis and Issues Management 2 | Issue Management: Preparing Texas for New World Screwworm: AgriLife’s Integrated Issues Management, Media Coordination and Public Readiness (2025), Blair Fannin, manager – communications and media relations; Laura Muntean, media relations coordinator; Kay Ledbetter, communications manager; Shelby Dittman, social media communications coordinator.
Electronic Media, Video and Audio
GOLD – Electronic Media, Video & Audio 2 | Profile Videos: Grow the Future: Empowering Texas Ag Teachers, Hitchcock.
BRONZE – Electronic Media, Video & Audio 2 | Profile Videos: 3H Ranch: A dream to restore the land, Hitchcock, Hall.
BRONZE – Electronic Media, Video & Audio 4 | Promotional, Recruitment, and Fundraising Products: ANRP 35th Anniversary – Agricultural and Natural Resources Policy Internship Program, Hitchcock.
GOLD – Electronic Media, Video & Audio 5 | Informational, News, or Educational Video Production: Tick Removal Best Practices with Dr. Teel, Hitchcock, Hall.
Graphic Design
Photography
BRONZE – Photography 3 | Picture story: Monarchs, Hannah Harrison, multimedia project specialist; Hertel.
GOLD – Photography 4 | Service photo: Texas State 4-H Horse Show, Harrison.
Publishing
Social Media
Writing
ACE Rising Star Award
Dittman was recognized for her early contributions to ACE. She joined in 2023 and immediately volunteered for the Media Relations Learning Community leadership team as incoming vice chair, eventually stepping up to chair the learning community. She also co-chaired the 2025 ACE Conference and co-presented to a packed room during the event.
At Texas A&M AgriLife, she strategizes and develops content across the agency’s social media accounts. She has made significant contributions to the communication field through scalable professional development, systemwide resources and direct, in-person trainings that elevate communication standards.
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