Oakton Marketing and Communications Leader Named 2024 Rising Star

Park Ridge resident Kelsey Kapolnek was honored at the NCMPR District 3 conference in Cleveland, Sept. 27.
Des Plaines, Ill. (Sept. 27, 2024) – Oakton College’s senior manager of content marketing, Kelsey Kapolnek, has been named the 2024 District 3 Rising Star by the National Council for Marketing & Public Relations (NCMPR). Kapolnek was honored at the NCMPR District 3 conference in Cleveland, Ohio, Sept. 27.

Recognized for her innovative leadership and commitment to inclusive marketing strategies, Kapolnek plays a pivotal role in elevating Oakton’s content across multiple platforms while championing student voices. Her efforts have strengthened the College’s brand and enhanced its visibility within the community.

“We are so proud to celebrate our very own Kelsey Kapolnek for being named the NCMPR’s District 3 Rising Star of the Year,” said Andrea Lehmacher, Ed.D., Oakton College director of marketing. As a dedicated storyteller, Kelsey ensures all marketing initiatives align with Oakton’s goals and priorities and has made a remarkable impact on Oakton's marketing and communications efforts. Congratulations!”

As the District 3 Rising Star, Kapolnek now advances as a finalist for NCMPR's National Rising Star Award, to be presented in March 2025. NCMPR represents community and technical college marketing and communications professionals across the U.S. and Canada. District 3 includes Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Wisconsin and Ontario.

"It's an honor to be recognized as part of an incredible team that works hard every day to share the Oakton College story,” said Kapolnek. Oakton is dedicated to creating just and thriving communities through education, and it's a privilege to be able to capture that mission in our marketing efforts."

In addition to the award, Kapolnek is also a member of the 2024-25 NCMPR Leadership Institute cohort. At Oakton, she leads a team of creative storytellers who craft the College's branded content across marketing channels, including social media, enrollment campaigns, publications and advertising. Her team developed innovative inclusive storytelling guidelines that outline how the marketing team collaborates with and empowers students highlighted in advertising materials and other content.

Before joining Oakton in 2020, Kapolnek led the marketing efforts at the School of Fine and Performing Arts at Columbia College Chicago. She also spent several years at the University of Illinois Institute of Government and Public Affairs.

Kapolnek has a master's degree in communication from the University of Illinois and a bachelor's in journalism from Ohio University. She lives in Park Ridge with her husband and two children.