UCO Strategic Communications Students Earn Honorable Mention in National Competition

February 22, 2024

University of Central Oklahoma strategic communications students received an honorable mention in the Invent2Prevent competition sponsored by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the McCain Institute. The students, part of the Department of Mass Communication’s strategic campaigns class, placed in the top eight with a unique campaign focusing on combatting targeted violence.

The Invent2Prevent competition is an innovative, experiential learning program that challenges high school and college students to create and implement their own dynamic products, tools or initiatives to address acts of targeted violence, hate or terrorism in their communities.

For the competition, the students created a game, Pieces of PIE (Politely Including Everyone), which teaches students strategies to fight stereotypes and include their peers. Central students visited local fifth-grade classrooms throughout the fall semester introducing the game.

“I am so proud of this team and their hard work on this important campaign,” said Megan Cox, Ph.D., assistant professor of mass communication and faculty adviser.

“They have used their critical communication skills from our program to put together something professional and impactful.”

UCO participants, who are all senior strategic communications majors, include:

• Hunter Beck, from Kingston, Oklahoma;
• Macy Boren, from Midwest City, Oklahoma;
• Abby Boyer, from Choctaw, Oklahoma;
• Levanna Facen, from Lawton, Oklahoma;
• Sarah Hamilton, from Perry, Oklahoma;
• Promise Hill, from Oklahoma City;
• Brooklynn Hoehne, from Oklahoma City;
• Brianna Jones, from Oklahoma City;
• Emad Khan, from Edmond, Oklahoma;
• Jennifer Meadows, from Oklahoma City;
• Bailey Poage, from Piedmont, Oklahoma;
• Evan Siefke, from Piedmont, Oklahoma;
• Lauren Summers, from Oklahoma City; and,
• Domingo Ward, from Lawton, Oklahoma.

Since Invent2Prevent’s inception in spring 2021, more than 1,100 students have participated. In fall 2023, 30 colleges and universities started the competition and 17 completed, including UCO. Other top finishers included Howard University, Iowa State University, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, University of Arizona and California State University.

UCO is one of 25 universities slated to compete in the Invent2Prevent’s spring 2024 competition and is the only university representing Oklahoma.

Central’s Bachelor of Arts in strategic communications is designed to equip students with the skills and knowledge necessary for success in the ever-evolving field of strategic communication, with curriculum that integrates theory and practical application.

Additionally, Central offers a Master of Arts in strategic communications – leadership in communications, which emphasizes the strong leadership skills necessary for career advancement in the ever-growing communications industry. The fully online program can be completed in as little as two years, with the option for a capstone project or thesis.

For more information about Pieces of PIE, visit thepiecampaign.com.

To learn more about the UCO Department of Mass Communication, visit www.uco.edu/mcom.