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AMHERST, N.Y. -- Paula Witherell, director of institutional communications at ˿����Ƶ College, has received prestigious Silver and Bronze Excalibur Awards from the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) Buffalo Niagara Chapter.  The awards were presented at the 27^th annual Excalibur Awards ceremony held on June 22 in the Tralf Music Hall.

Witherell received a Silver Excalibur Award in the media relations category for her peer-reviewed work, entitled “˿����Ƶ College Media Relations Raises Institution’s Visibility,” and a Bronze Excalibur Award in the press conference category for her entry, entitled “˿����Ƶ-LMU Partnership for Veterinary Medicine Degree Announced.” 

“Paula’s job is to publicize how the many accomplishments of ˿����Ƶ’s faculty and staff bring national distinction to the college, and now she herself has brought national distinction to the college by winning these prestigious awards from the preeminent association of public relations professionals,” said President Gary A. Olson.

Robert Mills, special assistant to the president for government relations at ˿����Ƶ, who attended the awards ceremony, stated: “As someone who works daily with Paula, I see first-hand that the quality of her work is exceptional. ˿����Ƶ College is fortunate to have her leading our institutional communications efforts, and I am proud to have Paula as a colleague.”

Witherell has received many Gold, Silver and Bronze Excalibur Awards from PRSA throughout her career, and, most recently, was presented a CASE District II Gold Accolade Award for Excellence in News Writing: General News Writing. 

She earned a bachelor’s degree in communications and a master’s certificate in public relations/communications strategic management from SUNY Buffalo State, and is a graduate of the Western New York Consortium of Higher Education’s Women’s Leadership Institute. 

Witherell resides in West Seneca.