UA Advancement Division Receives 10 CASE Awards

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Three departments within the University of Arkansas Division of Advancement - the Office of University Development, the Arkansas Alumni Association and the Office of University Relations - were recognized for various publications and programs by District III of the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education.

University Development was presented with the Award of Excellence for Total Educational Fundraising Program for the Campaign for the Twenty-First Century, which recorded $1.046 billion in gifts and pledges designated toward student and faculty endowments, academic programs, capital improvements and University Libraries when it concluded June 30, 2005. Also, UA alumnus and longtime volunteer Julian Stewart was awarded the Bill Franklin Volunteer of the Year Award for his leadership roles during the Campaign. (See http://dailyheadlines.uark.edu/7979.htm for a complete press release.)

The Alumni Association received a Special Merit Award in the Alumni Relations Project category for HogBash on the Hill, in recognition of its joint partnership with the UA Career Development Center and the UA Class Gift (Annual Giving) to strategically engage students as seniors throughout the year.

The Office of University Relations received the Award of Excellence in the Annual Reports II category for the final report of the Campaign for the Twenty-First Century. Individuals recognized for this publication were Laura H. Jacobs, Leigh Caruthers Prassel, Russell Cothren and Roy Cordell. Gina King, Prassel, Mike Macechko and Cothren earned a Special Merit Award in the Alumni Magazines II category for the University of Arkansas’ alumni magazine, Arkansas. Cothren also received a Special Merit Award in the Photography category for the entry titled “John Newman, Lithographer,” and a Special Merit Award in the Photo Essay and Series category for the Taste Test Photo Series.

Three awards were received for speechwriting. Remarks given by G. David Gearhart, vice chancellor for University Advancement, at the Campaign gala received an Award of Excellence. A Special Merit Award was presented to writer Andrew Albertson for closing remarks at Campaign Convocation. And, Chancellor John A. White’s 2005 State of the University address received a Special Merit Award.

Gearhart said, “I am extremely proud of the University Development, University Relations and Alumni Association teams. I see the results of their efforts every day, and it is a pleasure to know that each of these groups is being publicly recognized for their achievements. To have 10 awards presented to our division of the university by CASE is truly an honor.”

Established in 1974, the Council for Advancement and Support of Education, headquartered in Washington, D.C., 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 with nearly 4,500 professional members.

The organization is divided into eight districts. The University of Arkansas is part of District III, one of the largest districts comprising most of the Southern states and all of the Southeastern Conference schools.

The awards were presented in Nashville earlier this month.