St. John’s, NL — It was a night of celebration and recognition for College of the North Atlantic (CNA) last evening as the institution brought home four coveted awards from the annual International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) Pinnacle Awards, held in St. John’s, NL.
The Pinnacle Awards, presented by IABC’s Newfoundland and Labrador Chapter, are rigorously evaluated to measure excellence in business communications. CNA’s multiple wins place it among the top performers of the evening, reinforcing its reputation for excellence in both education, and professional arenas.
Demonstrating both student excellence and professional innovation, the college claimed two Awards of Merit in the student category, underscoring the talent emerging from the institutions’ Graphic Design program. Meanwhile, the college’s Marketing and Communications Department earned two Awards of Excellence, showcasing the team’s creativity and strategic impact in the marketing field.
CNA’s first Award of Excellence was earned for its bold and engaging social media campaign,
College is Scary… CNA is Scary Good! Hosted by Digital Content Creation graduate Chidinma Okafor, the campaign struck a chord with audiences by embracing an authentic, unfiltered approach to student life.
Aimed at easing the anxieties of incoming students, the video series offered a refreshingly honest look at college experiences — from navigating campus life to accessing student supports. By blending humour with practical information, the campaign helped demystify the transition to post-secondary education and showcased the vibrant, supportive environment CNA offers. The result? A campaign that not only resonated with its audience but also demonstrated the power of student-led storytelling in institutional marketing.
According to Heidi Staeben-Simmons, Associate Vice President of Public Affairs and Advancement, the Pinnacle Award accolades recognize individual and departmental accomplishments while also reflecting the college’s commitment to fostering innovation in communication across all levels.
“Winning an IABC Pinnacle Award of Excellence for our
College is Scary campaign is an honour and a testament to the power of authentic, student-centered storytelling. This campaign reached every major platform we use to connect with prospective students, from high school posters and our viewbook to feature stories and social media,” Staeben-Simmons said.
“Most importantly, it helped answer real questions by showcasing the supports, programs and community that make College of the North Atlantic such a welcoming place to learn and grow. The response has been incredible, and we are so proud of the impact this work continues to have.”
Among those on hand to celebrate this win was Okafor, who accepted the award for the Marketing and Communications team with Samantha Fitzpatrick, Manager of Creative Content at CNA. For Okafor, the moment was about more than just recognition — it was a testament to the collective effort behind the work.
“Achievement is born from willingness, determination, strength, consistence and a great team,” said Okafor. “Scary good work deserves scary good recognition.” Her words captured the spirit of the evening: a celebration not just of individual talent, but of collaboration, mentorship, and the power of creative communities.
The second Award of Excellence for CNA recognized the launch of a dynamic new
Careers@CNA microsite developed for the college’s Human Resources Department. The project signals a forward-thinking approach to talent recruitment and was a collaborative effort between the college’s Marketing and Communications and Human Resources departments. The initiative addressed the limitations of CNA’s former online recruitment presence, which was previously confined to a single static landing page. In its place, the college introduced a mobile-optimized, fully responsive platform designed to reflect modern job search habits and broaden its reach across provincial and national talent pools.
More than just a job board, the new
Careers@CNA microsite serves as a strategic recruitment tool — a vibrant, user-friendly space that communicates CNA’s values, inclusive workplace culture, and commitment to innovation while positioning the college as an employer of choice for a broader, more diverse range of applicants.
“Winning this award is a true honour,” says Deidre Dunne, Associate Vice President of Human Resources. “Being rewarded and recognized for the positive and progressive changes we are making to recruit top talent is a huge feather in our cap! I am so proud of our college teams. Not only are we able to attract top talent with the new microsite, but its proves that we have top talent already in house!”
Pictured, from left: Kate Sheppard, John Barry, Noah Jackman.
The talent brewing inside CNA’s classrooms was clearly on display at this year’s Pinnacle Awards, where two Graphic Design students were honoured for their outstanding creative work. Their wins showcased CNA’s far-reaching impact on the province’s design landscape – with its blend of hands-on instruction and real-world application, the program continues to produce graduates ready to make their mark.
Noah Jackman, a second-year student in the program, received an Award of Merit for his inventive rebrand of
Executive Coffee. Joining him in the winner’s circle was recent graduate Kate Sheppard, who also earned an Award of Merit for her branding project
Lapin. Their success exemplifies the level of professionalism emerging from CNA’s design program and reflects the calibre of mentorship and training provided by CNA’s School of Academic, Applied Arts and Tourism. It also signals a bright future ahead for both young designers.
“These awards are not just about student projects; they’re about preparing industry-ready professionals,” said Graphic Design instructor, John Barry. “To see our students recognized on a provincial platform like IABC’s Pinnacle Awards is incredibly rewarding.”
Barry isn’t just mentoring the next generation of designers – he’s actively contributing to the professional landscape himself. In a full-circle moment during the evening’s ceremony, IABC Newfoundland and Labrador unveiled its newly rebranded logo, a sleek and modern design developed by his student, Jackman, and refined by Barry. The reveal added an extra later of pride to the night, highlighting the influence CNA faculty continue to have both inside and outside the classroom.
“This year, the Pinnacle Awards event decided that a rebrand was necessary. A creative brief was sent to help guide us through the creative process and we had submissions from students and faculty. The selected design was originated by Noah Jackman and refined by me. I worked with IABC NL on the final version and both colour and shape variations and the new branding was developed from the shape of the Pinnacle Awards trophies,” Barry explained.
“I always tell my students that design is about communication and engagement. Working as a team on IABC NL’s rebrand and seeing my students win on the same night was incredibly special.”
To learn more about CNA’s Graphic Design program, visit
www.cna.nl.ca. You can watch the award-winning
College is Scary… CNA is Scary Good! video series on the college’s YouTube channel at
www.youtube.com/CNAmarketing; and to explore the new Careers@CNA microsite — designed to help top talent connect with opportunities at CNA — visit
www.cna.nl.ca/careers.
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Media Contact:
Glenda Tompkins
Public Relations Specialist
College of the North Atlantic
709.643.6408
glenda.mccarthy@cna.nl.ca