Aerospace Industries Association
AIA and PR Firm Share Communications Award for Generating Interest in Aerospace Careers through TARC
AIA and its public relations counsel Van Eperen & Company have received a 2009 Silver Inkwell Award of Merit from the Washington Chapter of the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC).
The aerospace association and the public relations firm were recognized for creating and implementing a collaborative media campaign in support of the 2009 Team America Rocketry Challenge (TARC).
To raise awareness about the aerospace industry’s workforce needs and encourage students to pursue STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) careers through participation in TARC, the media relations plan targeted traditional print and broadcast media and for the first time included Web-based social media, such as Facebook and YouTube, information sources popular with younger demographic age groups.
As a result, the campaign reached an estimated 100 million people throughout the United States, and TARC registered 653 participating teams from 45 states.
With more than 640 members, IABC/Washington is the organization’s largest chapter in the United States and the second largest in the world.
IABC members include public and private sector communicators who are consultants, independent business owners and corporate staff in marketing, advertising, corporate communications, government relations, human resource communications and shareholder relations.
For more information about TARC and future sponsorship opportunities, contact Audrey Koehler at 703-358-1033 or visit www.rocketcontest.org.
AIA source: audrey.koehler[at]aia-aerospace.org
