AMHERST, N.Y. -- The Council for Advancement and Support of Education District II has selected Paula Witherell, director of institutional communications at Daemen College, to receive a 2016 gold Accolade Award for Excellence in News Writing: General News Writing.

The award will be formally presented to Witherell at the organization’s annual regional conference being held in February in Philadelphia.

“This highly-competitive award is evidence of Paula’s exemplary work at Daemen College and demonstrates the respect she holds among her peers and national communications experts,” said Daemen President Gary A. Olson. “We are proud of her many accomplishments and the leadership she continues to demonstrate at Daemen and throughout Western New York.”

CASE District II previously honored Witherell for her work in the categories of news writing, electronic newsletters, and crisis communications. In 2015, she received a silver Excalibur Award in media relations and a bronze award in press conferences from the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) Buffalo Niagara Chapter.

Witherell earned a master’s certificate in public relations/communications strategic management and a bachelor’s degree in communications, both from SUNY Buffalo State. She is also a graduate of the Western New York Consortium for Higher Education’s Women’s Leadership Institute. 

A graduate of Cheektowaga Central High School, Witherell was recently named a Cheektowaga Central School District 2015 Wall of Fame inductee in honor of her outstanding professional achievements.

She resides in West Seneca.