K-State earns prestigious CASE Circle of Excellence awards for creative projects
Friday, Aug. 2, 2024
MANHATTAN — Kansas State University has once again been internationally recognized for creative excellence by the Council for Advancement and Support of Education, or CASE. The university earned six 2024 Circle of Excellence awards for creative projects: one gold award, four silver awards and one bronze award.
K-State's Division of Communications and Marketing and the KSU Foundation were honored with these prestigious awards from the premier recognition program for educational advancement.
CASE is an international association of educational institutions. The Circle of Excellence awards are international awards that showcase outstanding work in advancement services, alumni relations, communications, fundraising and marketing at colleges, universities, independent schools and affiliated nonprofits around the world.
CASE judges selected 486 exemplary entries for recognition in 2024, choosing winners for overall quality, innovation, use of resources and impact on the institution or its communities.
The Division of Communications and Marketing won a gold Circle of Excellence award in the video/commercials category for the "Obstacles are opportunities," institutional spot. This 2023 K-State commercial highlights the successes and moments of struggle that all students face at some point in their academic careers.
Judges said they "liked the use of failure as a way to show that students can 'succeed' in their pursuits," and that it made this project stand out from other higher education commercials that show only achievements.
The "Obstacles are opportunities" institutional spot won a gold Circle of Excellence award in the video/commercials category.
The KSU Foundation earned a bronze Circle of Excellence award in the video/fundraising and stewardship (short) category for the "Marching band birthday message" video, which the Foundation sends to donors on their birthdays to show appreciation. Judges called this a "heartwarming" tribute and emphasized the creativity and community spirit of the human mosaic on the football field, as well as the KSU Marching Band's "innovative approach and embodiment of school spirit" in the piece.
The "Marching band birthday message" video won a silver Circle of Excellence award in the video/fundraising and stewardship (short) category.
Watch the video here.
The Foundation earned silver Circle of Excellence awards for the 2024 "All In Cash Course" podcast, the All In For K-State campaign, the "Flip this classroom" video and the sticker incentive.
The 2024 "All In Cash Course" podcast won a silver award in the communications/podcast (original) category. The podcast was part of a campaign that raised more than $1 million for Powercat Financial to provide financial literacy training for every K-State student. It highlighted tips for financial well-being and opened a conversation about the importance of financial literacy. Judges said the video/podcast format was a great way to build awareness and push the audience to the university's financial literacy program and that the student hosts and shorter episode format made the content relatable to the target audience.
The 2024 "All In Cash Course" podcast won a silver Circle of Excellence award in the communications/podcast (original) category.
The All In for K-State focused giving day won a silver Circle of Excellence award in the fundraising/flash campaigns/giving day campaigns category. In one day, All In for K-State raised $1,051,199 from 715 donors to bring financial literacy training to all Kansas State students. The campaign amplified an area where Kansas State is considered a national leader: personal financial planning.
According to the judges, "The design elements were creative and fun, and the excitement surrounding the giving day was demonstrated. Overall, a great concept."
The All In for K-State focused giving day won a silver Circle of Excellence award in the fundraising/flash campaigns/giving day campaigns category
The Foundation's "Flip This Classroom" video won a silver award in the video/fundraising and stewardship (short) category. This video encourages support to help the university renovate 67 high-traffic classrooms.
Judges appreciated how this video visually captures the impact that the campaign would have on the K-State campus.
The Foundation's "Flip This Classroom" video won a silver award in the video/fundraising and stewardship (short) category.
Finally, the "KSU Foundation's Sticker Incentive" won a silver Circle of Excellence award in the engagement/targeted constituency engagement category. The Foundation created stickers featuring Willie the Wildcat for donors who completed a survey and leveraged social media to promote the initiative and encourage survey completion through targeted ads. The campaign was so successful that it required additional sticker orders midway through its duration.
The "KSU Foundation's Sticker Incentive" won a silver Circle of Excellence award in the engagement/targeted constituency engagement category. Watch the video here.
"We are incredibly proud to be honored with five Circle of Excellence awards — a record number for KSU Foundation," said Susan Berhow, KSU Foundation vice president of communications and marketing. "We are particularly proud to receive nods for integrating outstanding strategy with inspiring creative. This combination allows us to engage and inspire donors to boldly advance K-State."
