The Hilton College communications team won three prestigious awards for their work on the 144-page hardcover book Celebrating 50 Reasons We Are Hospitality, a legacy project created over a period of 10 months to commemorate the College’s golden anniversary in 2019.  

On February 20, the American Advertising Federation-Houston presented the creative team with two coveted “Addy” awards – a Silver Award for book design and a Bronze Award for publication design of a cover/editorial spread or feature series. During the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) District IV Conference held in Grapevine on March 2, they snagged the Gold for design in the general institution literature category.

The book paints a comprehensive picture of where the College started and how far it has come, thanks to the remarkable strides made by so many. From the College’s humble beginnings to Dean Dennis Reynolds’ vision for our future, the book details our first class of 39 students and three professors who met on September 16, 1969, Conrad N. Hilton’s donation of a $1.5 million naming gift to establish our hospitality program, and larger-than-life Founding Dean James C. Taylor, who was the driving force behind making our College and hotel a reality.

It also contains hundreds of historical photographs of the College’s construction and growth, of its programs and traditions, and of artifacts from our Hospitality Industry Archives, the largest collection of industry memorabilia in the world. With several sections devoted to the student experience, alumni from all decades might also find their photos gracing the pages.

Kudos to our Cre-ART-ive Manager Katie Guidroz, who designed and art directed this legacy project; Director of Communications Debbie Maurer and Manager of Digital Marketing Pearl Cajoles, who were instrumental in the writing, editing and photography, respectively; and to Graduate Assistant Nicole Olavarria-Key, who also worked tirelessly with the team to provide design and production support. It was a true team effort and “the project of a lifetime” for all.  

As Dean Reynolds directed, “Think BIG because you only turn 50 once!”

Mission accomplished.

Posted March 26, 2020