College brings home eight gold awards, recognizing excellence in community college marketing and communications.
At Eastern Iowa Community Colleges (EICC), great marketing starts with a great story.
Whether it's celebrating a student's success, introducing a new mascot or helping
someone discover what's possible through education, every campaign, design and headline
has a purpose: connecting people to opportunity.
That creativity and commitment earned EICC's marketing and communications team 10 Medallion Awards, including eight gold, at the 2026 National Council for Marketing and Public Relations (NCMPR) District 5 competition. Adding to the celebration, EICC graphic artist Nathan Klaus was named 2026 District 5 Creative of the Year, recognizing his exceptional talent and contributions to community college marketing.
The recognition follows a year of creative work, from introducing Eddy the River Otter mascot and refreshing EICC's brand, to relaunching the college's magazine and bringing student stories to life through new campaigns and digital content.
Behind that work is a collaborative team of storytellers, designers and digital strategists, including chief communications officer Erin Snyder, associate director for marketing and communications Johnna Kerres, web and digital strategist Nicole Harrison, graphic artists Nathan Klaus and Matt Thomas, strategic content and writing specialist Dawn Neuses, marketing coordinator Griffin Wagner, and creative media specialist Eli Kayser.
NCMPR's District 5 includes community and technical colleges from Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota,
Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota and Manitoba, Canada. The Medallion
Awards recognize outstanding achievement in marketing and communications, with entries
evaluated by industry professionals and peers.
EICC's award-winning projects include:
Gold awards
- Viewbook: 2025-26 EICC Viewbook
- Postcard: Something Real – HiSET Scholarship Reminder
- Recruitment campaign: EICC Summer Camp Campaign
- Social media campaign: Talkin' Turkey with the Chancellor
- Campaign wild card: Mascot Launch Day | Eddy the River Otter
- Short-form writing: The River Only Goes One Direction
- Long-form writing: The Study That Refused to Stay Small
- Logo wear: "Like No Otter" T-shirt
Silver award
- Brochure: A Better Way to Do Summer – 2026 Summer Camps
Bronze award
- Magazine: EICC Magazine
Nathan Klaus named Creative of the Year
For Klaus, creativity is about more than making something look good. It's about making
people feel connected, welcomed, and part of something bigger.
That student-centered approach helped earn him NCMPR's 2026 District 5 Creative of the Year honor.
One of his most recognizable projects is Eddy the River Otter, EICC's first district-wide mascot. From early sketches to the finished character now making appearances across the district, Klaus helped turn an idea into a symbol of college pride and belonging. His work also extends to recruitment campaigns, publications, campus maps, and all materials that help students navigate their college experience.
"Nathan is an incredibly talented designer, but what makes him exceptional is the way he thinks about the people experiencing his work," said Johnna Kerres, associate director for marketing and communications. "He's always thinking about how a design will make students feel, whether it's clear and accessible, and how we can make something more welcoming. Eddy is a perfect example of that. Nathan didn't just design a mascot. He helped create something that brings people together.”
Erin Snyder, chief communications officer, said the entire team is committed to telling
meaningful stories, building connections, and making sure students see the possibilities
and success ahead.
“These awards are a reflection of the incredible talent, creativity and heart this
team brings to their work every day," said Snyder. "Everything they create has a purpose,
and I'm so proud to see their work recognized among the best in the region.