NGU Communication Students Receive SCPRSA Mercury Award
Posted on: April 15, 2026
Tigerville, SC—Students from North Greenville University’s (NGU) College of Communication and Fine Arts received the SCPRSA Mercury Award on Wednesday, April 15 in Columbia, SC, for their work in the Aurora Agency.
A student-led strategic communication firm, The Aurora Agency takes on a variety of on-campus projects each semester. The agency began four years ago and provides students in NGU’s public relations concentration practical hands-on learning experience. The Aurora Agency is under the direction of Ansley Welchel, instructor of communication at NGU.
It was awarded for organizing a historic and immersive campus tour during NGU’s 2025 Homecoming festivities
The idea, according to Welchel, came to the group from NGU archivist Joanna Beasley. engagement through a unique and immersive event.
“This award is very special to the School of Communication. The Aurora Agency feels very honored that Joanna Beasley and NGU Archives would entrust her unique idea to us, and that we were able to accomplish success on her behalf is rewarding enough,” said Welchel. “Realizing we had a worthy entry for this award category and now being validated by the premier state organization in the field of public relations is ‘icing on the cake.’”
Aurora Agency students participating in the NGU Homecoming History Tour project included: Kylie Davis, Anslee Johnson, Riley Belle, Belle Kinard, Paige Owings, and Jake Ridgway.
Students were assigned leadership roles during the event and collaborated with each other, creating a timeline for the project. Roles included tour scriptwriter, graphic designer, social media director, logistics manager, a partnership liaison who worked with main contacts in the NGU Archives and Alumni Engagement departments and an NGU Theatre liaison who recruited and trained volunteer actors.
Welchel said the students were excited when they found out they won the SCPRSA Mercury Award.
“They were thrilled. They knew they did great work last semester, but I don’t think they realized the level of what we were able to accomplish on behalf of the university to start such a unique way of interacting with our alumni on Homecoming,” she said.
Welchel is looking forward to the future of The Aurora Agency and the opportunities it will provide students.
“I want to continue giving the students great opportunities to apply their communication skills and get to work with others on-campus and off,” she said.
“I do hope that awards like these will help boost the credibility of the Aurora Agency so others recognize the name and associate our work with excellence in the PR field on behalf of NGU,” Welchel said.
