Highlighting the 2026 IPR and Page Case Study Competition Winners

Chief Communications Officers constantly navigate the tension between rising stakeholder expectations and the practical realities of running an organization. Social platforms accelerate public scrutiny, and political polarization complicates every message. To succeed, leaders must bridge the gap between abstract values and concrete business actions. The 2026 Institute for Public Relations (IPR) and Page Case Study Competition winners explore exactly how organizations manage these modern pressures while maintaining their ethical standards through the application of the Page Principles.

First Place: Defending Mission Amid Political Pressure

University of Oregon graduate students Yuritza Sandoval, Benjamin Schorzman, and Erin Taylor won first place for their case study, “Veritas vs. Trump”. "The team explored Harvard University's 2025 conflict with the federal government over research funding and institutional autonomy, which presented a core challenge for leaders. Harvard had to balance its commitment to academic freedom with its heavy reliance on federal research funding. Instead of making the fight about Harvard itself, the university framed its defense around the broader societal stakes of cancer research and medical discovery. This strategy successfully shifted the narrative from institutional self-interest to protecting scientific progress. The students presented their winning insights during a virtual webinar on June 23, moderated by Ethan McCarty. The student team received the Jack Koten Case Study Winner $5,000 prize, and their faculty adviser, Dr. Donna Davis, received $750.

Second Place: Rebuilding Trust Through Provenance 

American University students Greer Melville, Anabelle Sartain, and Fatiha Washington took second place for “Hearts, Minds and Carats: How De Beers Made Diamonds Eternal”. Faced with the market disruption of cheap lab-grown diamonds, De Beers realized that scarcity alone could no longer drive its narrative. The team detailed how the brand shifted its focus to value preservation through the Origins Strategy. The company used blockchain technology to prove the ethical sourcing and unique history of natural diamonds. This case serves as a reminder that legacy brands must align their messaging with verifiable operational transparency to maintain credibility. The team received a $3,000 award, and their adviser, Pallavi Kumar, received $500.

Third Place: Scientific Authority in a Fragmented Era

Megan Rose from the Colorado School of Public Health at Colorado State University won third place for “Testing Trust: Ultra Violette’s 2025 #SunScreenGate Crisis”. The study examines how a sunscreen brand navigated a severe reputational crisis after an independent lab questioned its SPF claims. The case illustrates the difficulty of communicating scientific uncertainty in an influencer-driven, highly emotional digital landscape. The case demonstrates that operational rigor is never enough without a parallel strategy for communicative risk and active stakeholder listening. Rose received $2,000, and her faculty adviser, Dr. Yeunjae Lee, received $250.

To dive deeper into these award-winning insights, explore the full case studies, slide decks, and comprehensive assessments for each of our 2026 winners.

Drive the Future of Our Profession

Case studies do more than document the complexities of our field. They provide the concrete data and insights that build our future strategies. Educators should actively challenge their students to analyze the real-world impacts of corporate communications, and students should seize the opportunity to showcase their strategic thinking. Stay tuned for future calls to submit entries for the 2027 IPR and Page Case Study Competition.