Liquid Interactive and Kutztown University Partner for Seventh Annual Digital Marketing Award

Winner holding large check.

(L to R): Elisha Cruz; Riley Charles, Strategist, Social Media and Campaigns, Liquid Interactive; Emily Massaro, Digital Marketing Director, Liquid.

KUTZTOWN, Pa. – Liquid Interactive, a premier marketing and tech agency in the Lehigh Valley, recently concluded its seventh annual Liquid Digital Marketing Award competition, a special event that allows Kutztown University students to apply their digital marketing know-how. This year's winner was junior Elisha Cruz, a marketing major from Allentown, Pa. The runner-up was junior Tanner Geist, a marketing major from Mertztown, Pa.

Liquid Interactive Blog

Each year, Liquid partners with one of its clients to present Kutztown University students with a real-world challenge that they must respond to with a digital marketing campaign. This competition gives students an opportunity to put their classroom skills to the test, think outside the box and meet and network with agency and business professionals.

Students first submit a written campaign plan, which includes goals, target audiences, identification of campaign channels and how they will be used, and lastly, how they plan to measure the campaign to show impact. Finalists are chosen by Kutztown University faculty, who then move onto a final round in which they present and do Q&A with a panel made up of subject matter experts.

While all finalists receive a monetary prize, it's up to the panel to determine which of the finalists place first and is able to partake in a Job Readiness Session with the Liquid team.

This year, Liquid partnered with its client Just Born, a family-owned candy manufacturer that has been in business since 1923. They make some of the most beloved and iconic candy brands, including PEEPS®, MIKE AND IKE®, HOT TAMALES® and GOLDENBERG’S® PEANUT CHEWS®. For the competition, students were asked to create a digital marketing campaign plan for PEEPS® promoting their PEEPSONALITY® LIVE! series.

Liquid has an established relationship with Kutztown University. Led by CEO Jim Ludlow, chair of KU's Council of Trustees, Liquid has many Kutztown University alumni among its team and Liquid's internship program has seen a number of Kutztown University students across all of its departments.