Connections Media is proud to announce that our work on behalf of NBC News Education Nation Summit has won a Webby Award for Events and Live Webcasts. The award was given for the best use of the web to promote specific events including concerts, festivals, sporting events, tours, or other events premiered on the Internet.

Other nominees included live digital platforms for Coldplay, the Grammys, the PGA Championship, and the YouTube Symphony Orchestra.

In 2011, NBC News’ Education Nation Summit brought together hundreds of educators, policymakers, and students from around the country for a dynamic conversation on how to improve education in America. While millions of viewers could watch live coverage of Education Nation and related education reports on NBC News stations and network affiliates, NBC News and Connections Media recognized the power of digital engagement to expand the conversation beyond broadcast.

In close collaboration with the NBC News Education Nation team, Connections Media developed a digital strategy that empowered users to contribute to the Summit discussion. Building upon the website created for Education Nation 2010, Connections Media created a number of online tools to make the Education Nation Summit 2011 a fully interactive digital experience.

These tools included an online, teachers-only chat where participants could debate the issues raised in the Teacher Town Hall – a live streamed conversation with a diverse group of educators hosted by NBC News anchor Brian Williams.

Connections Media also created online forums for users to exchange ideas on education and offered a customized experience on EducationNation.com based on users’ interests. Through this “Education Nation Community,” the Summit 2011 conversation continues online today and will once again serve as a hub for dynamic discussion during the Education Nation Summit 2012.

Congratulations to the team at NBC News, NBC Learn, and everyone who worked so hard to make Education Nation a marquee event for the education reform community. We are proud to have had this opportunity to contribute and have our work recognized by the Webbys.

To see more work from our Webby Award-winning team, click here.