UC is recognized with 38 CASE Circle of Excellence Awards

July 16, 2024

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Whale in front of a container ship — Created by UC Office of the President staff, the Fig. 1 video, “Saving Whales – Breakthrough Tech Stops Deadly Ship Collisions” received a Gold Circle of Excellence Award in the Videos: News and Research category.

Nine UC campuses and the Office of the President were honored with 2024 Circle of Excellence Awards from the Council for Advancement and Support of Education.

These prestigious international awards recognize exceptional achievement in advancement services, alumni relations, communications, fundraising and marketing. These are the creative, inspiring projects that impact institutions and their communities—and transform lives around the globe.

Congratulations to all the colleagues who worked on these award-winning projects!

Explore each winning entry by selecting the links below.

UC Berkeley

The cover of the Berkeley Haas 125th Anniversary Issue

The cover of the Gold award-winning Berkeley Haas 125th Anniversary Issue. “This forward-looking history is an ambitious challenge that Berkeley Haas pulled off beautifully,” noted the judges.

Gold, Single Topic/Special Editions — Berkeley Haas 125th Anniversary Issue
Silver, Writing: Column or Opinion Piece — Editor’s Note: Optimism Issue
Silver, Magazines, Alumni/General Interest — Berkeley Haas Magazine

UC Davis

Student working in a wetland area — UC Davis received a Gold award for the video, “Marine Science Student Researchers.” In their feedback, judges shared, “The excitement associated with unique research opportunities can be hard to communicate, but the team at UC Davis had us (and its student audience) exclaiming, ‘Wow! Look at what these students get to do!’”

Gold, Communications Initiatives (More Than 25 Staff) — IDEA$ at Work: Engaging Employees to Help Solve Budget Challenges
Gold, Donor Relations & Stewardship Initiatives — Annual Stewardship–You’re the Gift That Keeps on Giving
Gold, Special Events: In-Person (Single-Day) — Davis Day of Reflection – Healing Together
Gold, Videos: Fundraising and Stewardship (Long) — The Art of UC Davis: Donor Stewardship Video
Gold, Videos: Student Audience (Long) — A Day in the Life of Marine Science Student Researchers
Silver, Advancement Services Initiatives (More Than 25 Staff) — Aggie Accord: An App for Gift Agreements at UC Davis
Silver, Leadership: Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Initiatives — Accessibility and Inclusivity Guide for UC Davis Communicators
Silver, Podcasts (Occasional) — Pod of Orcas
Bronze, Leadership: Talent Management Initiatives — The Learning DO–Development Officer Boot Camp
Bronze, Special Events: In-Person (Multi-Day) — Parent & Family Weekend 2023
Bronze, Videos: Fundraising (Flash Campaign/Giving Day) — Last Chance to Give Video: Cori and UC Davis

UC Irvine

Women dancing in traditional Mexican dresses — UC Irvine’s Día de los Muertos event was honored with a Grand Gold award — the highest honor — for its Día de los Muertos celebration. Judges wrote, “Wow! The Día de los Muertos event by UC Irvine really exemplifies how a university should do and execute a culture event at their institution.”

Grand Gold, Special Events: In-Person (Single-Day) — Día de los Muertos
Bronze, Videos: Fundraising (Flash Campaign/Giving Day) — UCI Giving Day 2023 Video

UCLA

The cover of the Gold award-winning UCLA Magazine Fall 2023 Issue. In their feedback, judges shared, “We enjoyed the layout, colors and images used throughout. Additionally, we liked the risks the editors took throughout the issue, especially the new Bruinology section.”

Gold, Alumni/General Interest: Any Institution Type (Printed Once a Year) — UCLA Magazine Fall 2023 Issue
Gold, Alumni Relations Initiatives (More Than 25 Staff) — Bruin Business 100
Bronze, Videos on a Shoestring (Promotional) — Silly Questions, Smart Bruins: Barbie
Bronze, Storytelling — Project Jacaranda: Announcing Chancellor Gene Block’s Decision to Step Down

UC Riverside

Silver, Marketing: Micro-sites (Other) — Engaging Alumni Through an Updated Website Experience

UC San Diego

People photographing surfers at sunset — The photo “Scrippshenge,” captured by UC San Diego photographer Erik Jepsen, received a Silver Circle of Excellence Award. The photo’s name references a local phenomenon of the sunset aligning perfectly with the pillars of the Ellen Browning Scripps Memorial Pier. “This is a good example of the difference between a pretty picture (just showing the sunset) and a storytelling image (showing the crowd of photographers and the surfer, too),” wrote the judges.

Gold, Videos: Commercials (Gold) — UC San Diego Brand Anthem Video
Silver, Individual Photographs — Scrippshenge
Bronze, Fundraising: Case Statements / General Cultivation Publications — UC San Diego Community Stations Case for Support
Bronze, Individual Photographs (Bronze) — Pretty in Pink
Bronze, Video: Promotional (Long) — Eleanor Antin: A Fearless Force of Art

UCSF

Shawn Hervey-Jumper, M.D., in the operating room

Shawn Hervey-Jumper, M.D., is the subject of the award-winning UCSF article, “The Radical Compassion of Awake Brain Surgery,” by Ariel Bleicher. In their feedback, judges shared, “The writing is so effective, it’s like watching the surgery unfold in real-time. The author’s mastery of language creates a captivating experience, making it a truly engaging read.”

Gold, Online Magazines — UCSF Magazine website
Silver, Magazines & Periodicals — UCSF Magazine Design
Silver, Writing: Research, Medicine, and Science News — The Radical Compassion of Awake Brain Surgery
Bronze, Covers — UCSF Magazine, Summer 2023 Cover: “Inside the Distressed Teen Brain”
Bronze, Videos: News and Research — Awake Brain Surgery at UCSF

UC Santa Barbara

UC San Diego students — The UC San Diego video “Four Years Later,” was honored with a Silver Circle of Excellence Award. “This was a standout video, “judges noted. “The growth of the featured students was evident, and video’s candid approach was effective in inspiring young people, whether they are graduating or just starting out.”

Gold, Fundraising: Annual Reports and Fund Reports — UC Santa Barbara Annual Report of Private Philanthropy, FY 2023
Gold, Writing: Research, Medicine, and Science News — Dune Restoration
Silver, Videos: Student Audience (Long) — Four Years Later

UC Santa Cruz

UC Santa Cruz’s video on alumna bell hooks (Ph.D. ’83, literature) was honored with a Bronze Circle of Excellence Award. “The seamless integration of various media and archival materials, including great use of photography, enriches the narrative, creating a cohesive and engaging piece,” shared the judges.

Bronze, Videos: Promotional (Long) — UCSC Alumni Achievement Award Video: bell hooks

UC Office of the President

UCAN website showing diverse students standing together — The UC Advocacy Network’s effort to drive engagement around protecting federal financial aid and student support programs was honored with a Silver Circle of Excellence Award. “We were really impressed by the various ways students could choose to engage with this initiative, and it offered asynchronous opportunities. This was clearly a great example of impact and effort toward a meaningful solution,” wrote the judges.

Gold, Videos: News and Research — Saving Whales – Breakthrough Tech Stops Deadly Ship Collisions
Silver, Targeted Constituency Engagement — Protecting Federal Financial Aid and Student Support Programs
Silver, Special Events: Online (Series) — Leading Toward Equity speaker series

See all 2024 Circle of Excellence Award winners

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