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The Pride of CASE V Awards Program

2008 Categories

In an effort to simplify the entry process, each award category is listed only once. Please note that some award categories may apply to more than one area of advancement, so be sure to scan through the list of categories to find those that are relevant to your specific discipline. Categories are coded as follows: Alumni Relations, AR; Fundraising and Development, FD; Communications and Marketing, CM; Special Events, SE. The Best Practices categories are broken down by institutional enrollment. The full-time-equivalent number refers to the FTE enrollment for the entire institution, not that within a college or school.

Excellence in Alumni Relations

1. Best Practices in Alumni Relations — AR
This category is designed to recognize exemplary projects that serve as benchmarks for other institutions, provide a successful solution to overcoming challenges, reflect strategic use of resources and/or utilize innovative practices.

1a. Best Practices, Alumni Relations, 2,999 FTE or fewer
1b. Best Practices, Alumni Relations, 3,000 to 9,999 FTE
1c. Best Practices, Alumni Relations, 10,000 FTE and up

2. Best Student Alumni Programming — AR
Recognizes an outstanding program in Alumni Relations that involves current students at your institution, including programs aimed at students or programs involving student-alumni groups. Entries will be judged on program's success in meeting its stated goals, use of resources, creativity, and impact on the alumni relations program and institution.

3. Best Collaborative Program — AR, FD, CM
Recognizes a program that shows successful collaboration between at least two units in your institution. Entries will be judged on program's success in meeting its stated goals, use of resources, creativity, and impact on the programs and institution.

4. Best Volunteer Engagement Program — AR, FD
Recognizes the best program that honors, encourages or facilitates volunteerism in your institution's alumni relations or development program. Entries will be judged on program's success in meeting its stated goals, use of resources, creativity, and impact on the alumni relations program and institution.

5. Best New Alumni Program — AR
Recognizes an outstanding program that successfully and creatively identified a need in your institution's Alumni Relations program and found an innovative new way to solve it. Entries will be judged on program's success in meeting its stated goals, use of resources, creativity, and impact on the alumni relations program and institution.

6. Best Alumni/Institution Magazine — AR, CM
Recognizes outstanding work on magazines published by an institution and/or alumni association, geared toward external audiences. Submit two to five issues representative of the past year's publishing cycle.

6a. Best Alumni/Institution Magazine, 2,999 FTE or fewer
6b. Best Alumni/Institution Magazine, 3,000 to 9,999 FTE
6c. Best Alumni/Institution Magazine, 10,000 FTE and up

7. Most Improved Alumni/Institution Magazine — AR, CM
Recognizes outstanding improvements in magazines published by an institution and/or alumni association, geared toward external audiences. Tabloids that changed to a magazine format during the past year are included in this category. Submit two to five issues representative of the past year's publishing cycle. Also submit two to five issues from previous publishing cycle.

7a. Most Improved Alumni/Institution Magazine, 2,999 FTE or fewer
7b. Most Improved Alumni/Institution Magazine, 3,000 to 9,999 FTE
7c. Most Improved Alumni/Institution Magazine, 10,000 FTE and up

8. Best Video/DVD/CD-ROM, Fundraising, Alumni Relations or Commercial Spots — AR, FD, CM
Entries will be judged on the program's success in meeting its stated goals, use of resources, creativity, and impact on its department and institution.

Excellence in Fundraising and Development

9. Best Practices in Fundraising and Development — FD
This category is designed to recognize exemplary projects that serve as benchmarks for other institutions, provide a successful solution to overcoming challenges, reflect strategic use of resources, and/or utilize innovative practices in any area of fundraising and development.

9a. Best Practices, Fundraising, 2,999 FTE or fewer
9b. Best Practices, Fundraising, 3,000 to 9,999 FTE
9c. Best Practices, Fundraising, 10,000 FTE and up

10. Best Program Engaging Institution CEO in Fundraising — FD
Recognizes outstanding programs that utilize an institution's president or chancellor in innovative fundraising activities. Entries will be judged on the program's success in meeting its stated goals, use of resources, creativity, and impact on the fundraising program and institution.

11. Best Program in Advancement Services — FD
Recognizes outstanding programs in prospect research, information systems, gift administration, and other such areas of development and fundraising. Entries will be evaluated on innovation, use of resources and overall impact on development programs.

12. Best Program in Annual Giving — FD
Recognizes outstanding work in a program for annual giving. Entries will be judged on the program's success in meeting its stated goals, use of resources, creativity, and impact on the fundraising program and institution.

13. Best Capital/Comprehensive Campaign — FD
Recognizes outstanding work in a single, major campaign. Entries will be judged on the program's success in meeting its stated goals, use of resources, creativity, and impact on the fundraising program and institution.

14. Best Program in Donor Recognition/Stewardship — FD
Recognizes outstanding programs that honor donors and stewards. Entries will be judged on the program's success in meeting its stated goals, use of resources, creativity, and impact on the fundraising program and institution.

15. Best Program in Planned Giving — FD
Recognizes an outstanding program for planned giving initiatives. Entries will be judged on the program's success in meeting its stated goals, use of resources, creativity, and impact on the fundraising program and institution.

16. Best Major Gift Program — FD
Recognizes an outstanding program that successfully and creatively solicits and/or manages major gifts. Entries will be judged on the program's success in meeting its stated goals, use of resources, creativity, and impact on the fundraising program and institution.

17. Best Program in Case Statements/Cultivation Publications — FD, CM
Recognizes an outstanding individual publication designed to attract resources to your institution by cultivating gifts, grants, students, etc. Entries will be judged on the program's success in meeting its stated goals, use of resources, creativity, and impact on the fundraising program and institution.

Excellence in Communications and Marketing

18. Teresa Du Bois Exline Award for Best Practices in Communications and Marketing — CM
This category is designed to recognize exemplary projects that serve as benchmarks for other institutions, provide a successful solution to overcoming challenges, reflect strategic use of resources and/or utilize innovative practices. Entries can address projects in a variety of areas, including Government Relations, Media Relations, Internal Communications, Crisis Communications, etc.

18a. Teresa Du Bois Exline Award for Best Practices in Communications and Marketing, 2,999 FTE or fewer
18b. Teresa Du Bois Exline Award for Best Practices in Communications and Marketing, 3,000 to 9,999 FTE
18c. Teresa Du Bois Exline Award for Best Practices in Communications and Marketing, 10,000 FTE and up

19. Best Video Feature — CM
May include video news release or news feature lasting no more than four minutes. Entries will be judged on the program's success in meeting its stated goals, use of resources, creativity, and impact on communications and marketing program and institution.

20. Best Video/DVD/CD-ROM, Student Recruitment — CM
Entries will be judged on the program's success in meeting its stated goals, use of resources, creativity and impact on communications and marketing program and institution.

21. Best Radio PSA or Commercial Spot — CM
Audio PSAs and commercial spots produced for any institutional purpose may be entered. Each spot must be 60 seconds or less. Entries will be judged on the program's success in meeting its stated goals, use of resources, creativity and impact on communications and marketing program and institution.

22. Best Video PSA or Commercial Spot — CM
Video PSAs and commercial advertisements for institutionwide or specialized programs are eligible. Must be 60 seconds or less. Entries will be judged on the program's success in meeting its stated goals, use of resources, creativity, and impact on communications and marketing program and institution.

23. Best Electronic Newsletter — CM
Recognizes an outstanding electronic newsletter used by the institution or a unit within it. Entries will be judged on the program's success in meeting its stated goals, use of resources, creativity, and impact on communications and marketing program and institution. Provide electronic links for two to three issues from the past year’s publishing cycle.

24. Best Institutional Web Site — CM
Recognizes outstanding work on an overall institutionwide Web site. Entries will be judged on the site's completeness of available information, ease of navigation, technical competence, overall creativity and innovation, and impact on communications and marketing program and institution.

25. Best Web Site, Individual Page or Section — CM
Sites can be for student recruitment, alumni relations, news and events, department-level sites or other institutional uses. Entries will be judged on the site's completeness of available information, ease of navigation, technical competence, overall creativity and innovation, and impact on communications and marketing program and institution.

26. Best Tabloid/Newsletter for Internal Audience — CM
Submit two to three issues from 2007-08 publishing cycle. Entries will be judged on the program's success in meeting its stated goals, use of resources, creativity, and impact on communications and marketing program and institution.

27. Best Tabloid/Newsletter for External Audience — CM
Submit two to three issues from 2007-08 publishing cycle. Entries will be judged on the program's success in meeting its stated goals, use of resources, creativity, and impact on communications and marketing program and institution.

28. Most Improved Tabloid/Newsletter — CM
Can be for an internal or an external audience. Submit two to three issues from 2007-08 publishing cycle. Also submit two to three issues from previous publishing cycle. Entries will be judged on the program's success in meeting its stated goals, use of resources, creativity, and impact on communications and marketing program and institution.

29. Excellence in Print Advertising — CM
Includes billboards, print ads, posters, etc. For an institution or unit. Restricted to employees of CASE V institutions; work produced by freelance copywriters and designers is not eligible.

30. Best Annual Report — CM, AR, FD
Entries may be institutionwide or unit-level reports. Restricted to employees of CASE V institutions; work produced by freelance writers and designers is not eligible.

31. Best Viewbook — CM
Restricted to employees of CASE V institutions; work produced by freelance writers and designers is not eligible. Entries will be judged on the program's success in meeting its stated goals, use of resources, creativity, and impact on communications and marketing program and institution.

32. Excellence in Design, Brochures — CM
Restricted to employees of CASE V institutions; work produced by freelance designers is not eligible. Awards are given for a single brochure. Entries will be judged on the program's success in meeting its stated goals, use of resources, creativity, and impact on communications and marketing program and institution.

33. Excellence in Design, Series — CM
Restricted to employees of CASE V institutions; work produced by freelance designers is not eligible. Entries may include a series of brochures, recruitment publications or other thematically related pieces. Entries will be judged on the program's success in meeting its stated goals, use of resources, creativity, and impact on communications and marketing program and institution.

34. Excellence in Design, Posters — CM
Restricted to employees of CASE V institutions; work produced by freelance designers is not eligible. Entries will be judged on the program's success in meeting its stated goals, use of resources, creativity and impact on communications and marketing program and institution. For subcategory b, submit no more than six posters representative of the series.

34a. Individual Poster
34b. Poster Series

35. Excellence in Design, Miscellaneous — CM
Publications/specialty pieces. Examples may include CD labels, pocket folders, T-shirts and promotional design items. Restricted to employees of CASE V institutions; work produced by freelance designers is not eligible.

36. Best Specialized or Unit-Level Magazine — CM
Recognizes specialized or unit-level magazines, including research magazines and magazines for colleges, departments or other areas within an institution. (Alumni and institution magazines should be entered in categories 6 and 7.) Submit two to three issues representative of the past year's publishing cycle. Entries will be judged on the program's success in meeting its stated goals, use of resources, creativity, and impact on communications and marketing program and institution.

37. Excellence in Photography — CM
Restricted to employees of CASE V institutions; work produced by freelance photographers is not eligible. Entries must have appeared in institutional publications or periodicals or have been utilized for other institutional purposes, such as media relations, advertising, promotional and recruitment pieces, the Web, etc. Color or black-and-white photography may be entered. One photo per entry for subcategories a, b and c; no more than eight photos may be submitted for subcategory d.

37a. People and Portraits
37b. Campus Environment
37c. Sports
37d. Photo Essay

38. Best Graphic Identity/Logo — CM
Restricted to employees of CASE V institutions; work produced by freelance artists or designers is not eligible.

39. Best Illustration/Graphic — CM
Restricted to employees of CASE V institutions; work produced by freelance artists or designers is not eligible.

40. Excellence in Feature Writing, Individual — CM
Individual feature article, written by one writer or a team of writers, which has appeared in an institutional magazine, tabloid, newsletter, online publication or other institutional product (e.g., press release). Article should be submitted as a tear sheet or electronic link from the publication in which it appeared. Restricted to employees of CASE V institutions; work produced by freelance writers is not eligible.

41. Excellence in Feature Writing, Series — CM
A series of thematically related articles that have appeared in an institutional magazine, tabloid, newsletter, online publication or other institutional product (e.g., press release). Can be authored by a single writer or a team of writers. Articles should be submitted as tear sheets or electronic link(s) from the publication(s) in which they appeared. Restricted to employees of CASE V institutions; work produced by freelance writers is not eligible.

42. Excellence in News Writing — CM
Individual news article that has appeared in an institutional magazine, tabloid, newsletter, online publication or other institutional product (e.g., press release). Article should be submitted as a tear sheet or electronic link from the publication in which it appeared. Restricted to employees of CASE V institutions; work produced by freelance writers is not eligible.

43. Excellence in Research/Scientific/Medical Writing, Individual — CM
Individual article, written by one writer or a team of writers, on a research, scientific or medical topic that has appeared in an institutional magazine, tabloid, newsletter, online publication or other institutional product (e.g., press release). Article should be submitted as a tear sheet or electronic link from the publication in which it appeared. Restricted to employees of CASE V institutions; work produced by freelance writers is not eligible.

44. Excellence in Research/Scientific/Medical Writing, Series — CM
A series of thematically related articles on a research, scientific or medical topic that have appeared in an institutional magazine, tabloid, newsletter, online publication or other institutional product (e.g., press release). Can be authored by a single writer or a team of writers. Articles should be submitted as tear sheets or electronic link(s) from the publication(s) in which they appeared. Restricted to employees of CASE V institutions; work produced by freelance writers is not eligible.

Excellence in Special Events

45. Best Event on a Shoestring — SE, AR, FD
Recognizes outstanding program produced with a limited budget and/or planned within narrow time constraints. Judges will consider how the event successfully met objectives with creative use of resources.

46. Excellence in Special Events, Invitations and Collateral Materials — SE, AR, FD
Recognizes a creative and innovative use of invitations and other materials used for a special event. Judges will consider how the materials successfully and creatively met objectives.

47. Excellence in Special Events, Individual Event — SE, AR, FD
Recognizes a single event and outstanding program. Judges will consider how the event successfully and creatively met objectives.

48. Excellence in Special Events, Series of Events — SE, AR, FD
Recognizes a series of related events and an overall outstanding program. Judges will consider how the series successfully and creatively met objectives.

Excellence in Diversity Programming

49. Best Diversity Program — AR, FD, CM, SE
Recognizes programs, activities and communication efforts that enhance diversity at an institution. Judges will consider how the program supported the mission of the institution and creatively met objectives.