FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Three departments within the University of Arkansas Division of University Advancement — the Office of University Development, the Arkansas Alumni Association and the Office of University Relations — will be recognized for excellence by District III of the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education for excellent programs.

University Development will be honored with the Grand Award for Overall Development Programs, the highest honor. The entry focused on the university’s efforts to raise $900 million through the Campaign for the Twenty-First Century and Campaign-related programs such as The $300 Million Challenge and the Matching Gift Program. As of Jan. 31, 2003, the Campaign had raised $784.5 million; The Challenge had raised $154.6 million.

The Alumni Association will receive two awards: the Grand Award, the top honor, of Excellence for overall alumni relations projectsprogramming and the Award of Excellence for alumni relations programming. The Grand Award was for the creation of the R.E.A.L. (Recruiting Emerging Alumni Leaders) Razorbacks Program. This new organization has 755 members and is tied the Student Alumni Board. Membership carries many benefits including a five percent book discount at the University Bookstore. The Award of Excellence was for Alumni Associationthe submission was titled "Arkansas Alumni Association: Celebrating 125 Years of Tradition, Pride & Dreams," which focused on alumni programming during the 125th anniversary year. This entry covered all association activities and projects during the 125th anniversary year in 2003 including, the magazine history series, special celebration events, a commemorative poster, and the creation of the 125 Circle campaign, which created an endowment of more than $150,000 thanks to a gift-matching commitment by Shell and Kathleen Blakely to generate a total of $300,000.

The second award for R.E.A.L. Razorbacks is the new Student Alumni Association program that was implemented mid-year.

University Relations will receive an Award of Excellence in the annual reports category for its publication, Honor Roll of Benefactors 2002-2003. The purpose of this piece was to report the private gift support highlights of the University of Arkansas during the 2003 fiscal year and to provide appropriate recognition for all donors who made a gift of $100 or greater during the year while creating a printed archive detailing the fiscal year’s annual fund raising.

G. David Gearhart, vice chancellor for University Advancement, said: "I’m absolutely thrilled that the development office, University Relations and the Alumni Association have received this important recognition from CASE. It says that our fund-raising, communications and alumni relations programs are recognized by advancement colleagues in District III as being among the best in the nation, something we’ve known for a long time."

CASE, headquartered in Washington D.C., with an office in London, is the professional organization for advancement professionals at all levels who work in alumni relations, communications and development. Its membership includes more than 3,000 colleges, universities and independent elementary and secondary schools in the United States, Canada, Mexico and 42 other countries. It is the largest nonprofit education association in terms of institutional membership.

Mike Macechko, executive director of the Alumni Association, said: "Both of these awards are a testament to the creative and hard-working staff of the association that looks for new ways to involve alumni, friends and students (our future alumni.) These two awards are dramatic examples of the relationship of alumni to the U of A. The 125th Celebration reflected on the rich traditions of the association and its strong tie to the university, while the R.E.A.L. Razorbacks are our link to the future. When you consider the competition of the quality alumni programs of the southeast (including all our SEC colleagues), these awards are the equivalent of a Top 25 ranking by a Razorback sports team."

Clay Edwards, associate vice chancellor for University Development, said: "The development program at the University of Arkansas has a great heritage, and we are grateful to the deans and faculty for working so closely with our team to ensure success. Every member of the team had a hand in this."

Sandra K. Edwards, associate vice chancellor for University Development, said, "Additionally, this national recognition reflects the tireless effort of many volunteers involved in the success of the Campaign for the Twenty-First Century."

Susan Rogers, associate vice chancellor for University Relations, said, "This recognition comes as a result of excellent cooperation within the division, and the kind of extraordinary attention to detail that yields a product that serves both the university and its donors well."

The awards will be presented at the CASE District III conference in Atlanta this mont