In early 2024, the University of Texas at San Antonio Office of University Strategic Communications began planning for the April 8, 2024 total solar eclipse. We had a unique opportunity: The UTSA main campus was situated in the coveted path of totality, where eclipse viewers receive the best experience. At the same time, Texas’s elected leaders were becoming increasingly vocal about their desire to grow the state’s space economy beyond Houston and Austin. The convergence of these factors allowed our team to elevate UTSA as a hub for space science education and research. The space industry is poised to become a multi-trillion-dollar industry over the next decade. To leverage this incredible opportunity, our 11-member University Strategic Communications team developed an integrated communications plan focused on the variety of UTSA's space-related research programs. Our goal was to put UTSA on the map in space science, further elevating the university, the UT system, and our state. Since space is such a technical discipline, we needed to tell our story in a digestible way. Our communications plan included strategic messaging, compelling storytelling, podcasts, social media, media relations, and magazine content. Every member of our team had a role in this comprehensive project.
From the Judges
This campaign and project was robust, well planned, and executed. It was a top entry among us.
