Auburn wins seven CASE Circle of Excellence awards

The Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) announced Wednesday that Auburn University won seven of CASE’s 2024 Circle of Excellence awards, including one Grand Gold award in the category of publications and a Gold award for storytelling.

The premier accolades for educational advancement, the COE Awards celebrate colleges, universities and schools whose talented staff advanced their institutions with ingenuity and resourcefulness. This year, teams from 600 institutions in 28 countries entered the awards, submitting 4,223 entries. The 93 award categories spanned all advancement disciplines, including magazines and publications, fundraising campaigns, alumni initiatives, special events, marketing, leadership, video and more.  

Auburn took a Grand Gold award for a brochure highlighting naming recognition opportunities in the former Hood-McPherson Building — now home to Auburn in Birmingham. Produced by the Office of Philanthropy Communications, the brochure garnered top marks in the Fundraising Case Statements & General Cultivation Publications category, which showcases work that makes a compelling case to support a university initiative through philanthropic giving.  

Judges had this to say about the entry:

“This winning entry presents a powerful case for revitalizing an iconic building and contributing to the city's vibrancy. The piece effectively showcases how the colleges, students and community members can make a meaningful impact in Alabama's largest city. With crisp text, engaging visuals and adjustable floor plan inserts, this publication is both easy to read and visually appealing. The introduction to the project is compelling, and the complementary PDF and flexible materials for frontline staff are a great idea.”

Winning a Gold Award in the Storytelling category was a story that Auburn’s Office of Communications and Marketing told about a pivotal connection Auburn has to the Father of Rock ‘n’ Roll. The story — written by Communications Director Preston Sparks with video accompaniment by Kimberly Hyde — detailed how Sam Phillips, the man who discovered Elvis and so many other music legends, received a radio fundamentals certificate from Alabama Polytechnic Institute (a precursor to Auburn University) that allowed him to gain his Class C certification to run a radio station, thereby setting the Father of Rock ‘n’ Roll on his way.

Judges’ comments were as follows:

“Judges really liked this story and thought it was beautifully written and captures Sam Phillips' connection to Auburn. It paints a picture of how Phillips owes his entire career (and the careers of so many others) to Auburn based on that one course he took. Impressive outcomes, beautiful visuals and outstanding storytelling that could be replicated by other institutions.”

In other categories, Auburn also received the following:

Silver awards

Fundraising: Case Statements / General Cultivation Publications (Advancement, Gogue Performing Arts Center Planning Giving Brochure)

Videos: Student Audience (Short) (Student Affairs, Dr. Woodard Tries Cheerleading)

Bronze awards

Alumni/General Interest: Four-Year Colleges and Universities (Printed Three+ Times a Year) (Advancement, Fall 2023 and Spring 2023 issues of Auburn Magazine)

Podcasts (Frequent) (The Jule Museum Podcast)

Videos: Fundraising and Stewardship (Short) (Advancement, Broun, Little and Teague Women of Auburn Endowed Fund Video)

This year, volunteer judges from CASE’s membership selected 486 exemplary entries for bronze, silver, gold and Grand Gold recognition. Winners were chosen for overall quality, innovation, use of resources and the impact on the institution or its communities, such as alumni, parents, students, faculty and staff.   

“As we mark CASE's 50th anniversary this year, we are taking time to celebrate our members across the globe,” said Sue Cunningham, CASE president and CEO. “Examples of their remarkable work are evident throughout the Circle of Excellence Awards. We applaud the achievements and innovation of advancement professionals across all sectors and all regions—work in schools, colleges and universities that advances education and thereby transforms lives and society."