Purdue Brand Studio honored for excellence in content marketing, social media

Purdue Brand Studio — the university’s full-service, in-house marketing agency — earned top honors for Purdue University and Purdue Global campaigns across seven categories at Ragan’s PR Daily 2025 Social Media & Digital Awards and Content Marketing Awards, held Sept. 25 in New York City.

The awards are among the industry’s most prestigious recognition programs for outstanding work and honor marketing teams and professionals pushing the boundaries of social and digital communications.

“These awards reflect the collaborative efforts of our entire team and its willingness to take bold creative risks,” said Kelly Hiller, Purdue’s chief marketing officer. “From partnering with Team USA to tell compelling stories about online education, to launching our first feature film, to creating culturally relevant immersive experiences, Purdue Brand Studio continues to push boundaries and redefine what’s possible in higher education marketing.”

Winning entries

Total Solar Eclipse Viewing Event — In April 2024, Purdue Brand Studio partnered with the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and NASA to create an immersive experience around the total solar eclipse. The Total Solar Eclipse Viewing Event, which drew millions of viewers and a crowd of more than 50,000 at the speedway, received a Content Marketing Award for best event.

“In Our STEM Era” Makerspace — Purdue Brand Studio earned a best brand awareness campaign Content Marketing Award for a pop-up makerspace located just blocks from the Indianapolis concert venue hosting the final stop of Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour. In collaboration with e.l.f. Cosmetics, Purdue created a vibrant, interactive experience that connected with thousands of prospective students.

“Boilers to Mars” — Purdue Brand Studio’s first feature film, “Boilers to Mars,” earned a Content Marketing Award for best long-form video. The film, which follows a crew of students who meet on campus and journey into space after graduation, highlights Purdue’s long-standing leadership in space exploration and its distinction as the Cradle of Astronauts.

Purdue Global Team USA Athlete Campaign (Paris 2024) — Through its partnership with the Guild and Team USA Learning Network, Purdue Brand Studio created a compelling message about online education centered on Rose Hollermann, a four-time U.S. Paralympian and Purdue Global student. The campaign earned two Content Marketing Awards for best overall use of video and best campaign for educational institution and two Social Media & Digital Awards for best marketing campaign and best video.

The awards add to the growing list of national and global recognition Purdue Brand Studio has earned, including being named as the No. 6 top agency globally, and No. 2 in the United States, in the 2025 MUSE Creative Awards held in April. The prestigious international advertising awards platform also honored Purdue with nine individual awards for projects and campaigns that blend brand excellence with audience resonance.