The City of Hickory has received accolades for its prowess in visual storytelling, clinching a second-place honor at the North Carolina City & County Communicators (NC3C) Excellence in Communications Awards. The esteemed recognition was given for a captivating photograph of the Aviation Walk pedestrian bridge, set against the canvas of an evocative sunset. As confirmed by the NC3C, the image was pitted against a competitive field in the Photography – Small Population category, a testament to its compelling allure.
The award, announced on April 10 during the annual NC3C conference in Asheville, North Carolina, comes on the heels of intense competition, with a total of 179 entries submitted by 47 local government organizations. The Photography category, noted for being particularly competitive, drew the largest share of submissions. Hickory's entry, featuring the newly unveiled pedestrian bridge, resonated with professional peers from the Minnesota Association of Government Communicators who served as judges. As the sunset painted the sky, the bridge bore witness to Hickory's serene evenings, captured through a lens, by Different Perspective Photography's Jeff Yount, who was commissioned by the City of Hickory.
Hickory's triumph, as described by the city's Communications and Marketing Manager Dana Kaminske, comes on the heels of the Aviation Walk bridge opening. "With the new opening of the Hickory Aviation Walk bridge across U.S. 321, there was an opportunity to photograph the bridge and the surrounding area of Hickory to add to our Hickory Trail marketing photos," Kaminske mentioned in a statement highlighted by the City of Hickory. The photograph embodies Hickory’s landscapes and the marvel of the early evening, all under the watchful gaze of the lit "HICKORY" letters that hallmark the bridge.
The Aviation Walk bridge plays a pivotal role in the city's expanding infrastructure, representing the third completed segment of the five major Hickory Trail sections. Catering to more than an evening stroll, plans are underway to extend the Walk, bridging connections to notable landmarks like the Appalachian State University Hickory Campus, the future Hickory Aviation Museum and Catawba Valley Community College's The Dale Earnhardt Regional Innovation Complex, as well as trails stretching beyond the Hickory Regional Airport. In the words of Kaminske, the photograph by Yount deftly showcases the bridge and surrounds in such a way that it amplifies the City of Hickory’s marketing initiative for the Hickory Trail.
The NC3C, an organization dedicated to fostering professional development and collaboration among local government communicators in North Carolina, has praised Hickory's efforts. Formed in March 2007, it boasts a membership consisting of savvy communicators from across the state, all striving to enrich the discourse between city institutions and the communities they serve. The City of Hickory's recent achievement in communications, chronicled in the City of Hickory official announcement, underscores the city's commitment to excellence and its dedication to connecting with residents through powerful visual narratives.
