LUTCHER — St. James Parish Hospital representatives recently attended the Louisiana Hospital Association’s Annual Fall Conference and awards luncheon, and the hospital was recognized with several state marketing awards.

The Pelican Awards recognize excellence in hospital public relations and marketing with the goal to improve the quality and effectiveness of hospital communications.

Hospitals from across the state compete in different categories for the awards, which are judged based on planning, implementation, results and creativity.

St. James Parish Hospital won five awards, which included a Certificate of Merit and the “Best of Show” Jacqueline Leonard Writing Excellence Award.

Kassie Roussel, director of marketing, was presented the award for the hospital’s 2015 Annual Report, marking the third time she has been recognized as an overall award recipient for creative writing.

Roussel, who has served on the Board of Directors for the Louisiana Society for Hospital Public Relations and Marketing for two years, was also announced as the 2017 President-Elect of the Board.

Her term will officially begin at next year’s conference.