The Pilot's advertising and graphics staff had a strong showing in the North Carolina Press Association's annual advertising contest.

It garnered four first place awards, three seconds and a third place in the community newspaper division, during award ceremonies in Chapel Hill on March 2. The awards are shared by both the salesperson who handles the account and the graphic designer who created it.

Ad designer Kristen Clark won a share of four awards, two for first place, two seconds and a third, while graphic department coordinator Scott Yancey won two first place awards and one second.

On the sales side, Peggy Marsh won two first places and a second, while circulation director Darlene Stark won a second and third for her work with Clark on circulation promotion ads. Darlene McNeil-Smith and Perry Loflin also took home first place awards.

The first place categories that The Pilot won in this year were best real estate ad, best motor vehicle ad for Clark Chevrolet's 40th anniversary, best use of humor and best advertising campaign for the Spelling Bee for Literacy.

The second place finishes were in the categories of best institutional ad, best newspaper promotion and best special section for the Robbin's Farmer's Day tab produced and sold by Johnsie Tipton and the staff. The third place finish was also in newspaper promotion.

"It's a good showing for us in this contest," said Pat Taylor, The Pilot's ad director. "We're in a very competitive category with the N.C. Press contest, so to come out with four firsts is a good reflection of the care and skill we exhibit with every ad we produce. We usually do pretty well in these kinds of competitions because we tend to produce good work consistently."