FSU Wins National Awards
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irtually every industry has a process for honoring professionals who have turned in outstanding performances or have made lasting contributions. The Grammys honor musicians. The Tonys salute those on the stage, and the Emmys recognize those on the movie screens and on daytime television.
Attending the New Orleans conference to accept the awards were (L-R) Jeffery M. Womble, Director of Public Relations; Wendy Lowery, Associate Vice Chancellor for Development; Arthur G. Affleck, Vice Chancellor for Institutional Advancement; Michaela Brown, Director of Alumni Affairs; and Ben C. Minter, Director of Marketing and Special Events.
Those who work in Institutional Advancement at colleges and universities have their professional network that supports those in alumni relations, communications, development, and marketing. Earlier this year, that network recognized individuals and schools for their successes and products. Fayetteville State University’s (FSU) Division of Institutional Advancement was among the honorees. The Council for Advancement and Support Education (CASE) honored FSU’s Division of Institutional Advancement during its combined District III and IV conference in New Orleans. District III, of which FSU is a member, consists of colleges and universities from Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia. FSU won two awards – an Award of Excellence for the Chancellor’s 2010 CIAA Luncheon Featuring Tom Joyner, and the Special Merit Award for “Ovation!,” the 2010-11 performing and fine arts magazine. Even more significant is that FSU was competing against some of the largest schools in the country. The Joyner event and “Ovation!” magazine were produced by FSU’s Office of Marketing and Special Events. “These two awards are outstanding examples of what collaborative efforts can achieve,” said Ben Minter, Director of Marketing and Special Events. “Both are the result of faculty, staff, student, alumni, friend, and supporter working together to achieve something great. This combined effort is the type of catalyst that continually moves us forward as a university destined for great things.” In their comments, the judges stated that “Ovation!” was one of their favorite publications. “We were rooting for this
underdog publication,” one of the judges noted. “This team accomplished a lot with a small budget. Well-designed objective led to a magazine that is executed right on target.” Arthur Affleck, Vice Chancellor for Institutional Advancement, said winning the awards demonstrate FSU’s commitment to producing quality publications and programs that reflect two of the university’s strategic priorities of making the institution an intellectual and cultural center and practicing fiscal resourcefulness. “We want to make certain we produce publications and organize events that not only make the university, students, and alumni proud, but also are appealing to our peers in the advancement industry,” Affleck said. “We think both of these awards demonstrate we are doing just that, and to be honored by those our industry who have expertise in these areas is truly an honor.” Founded in 1974 as a result of a merger between the American Alumni Council and the American College Public Relations Association, CASE is an international association of educational institutions. It helps its members build stronger relationships with their alumni and donors, raise funds for campus projects, produce recruitment materials, market their institutions to prospective students, diversify the profession, and foster public support of education. Its membership includes more than 3,400 colleges and universities, primary and secondary independent and international schools, and nonprofit organizations in 68 countries.
Spring/Summer 2011
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