Honors College, University Relations Collaboration Wins Fifth CASE Award

Brother Cyrille encouraged the students to look beyond books to “just try to feel it – I think that’s the purpose of your journey.”

The students pause for a moment of reflection in a cloister in Toulouse, France.

Jacob Purifoy presents at the fortress castle of Puilaurens in southern France.

Tenley Getschman and Darci Walton react to the soaring spaces within Paris’ Sainte-Chapelle.

The students sip hot tea while learning about traditional Peruvian textiles.

Anthony Azzun leans in to view the catacombs beneath San Francisco de Lima.

The students stumbled upon an impromptu parade in Arequipa – and Dani Carson almost came home with a puppy.

The students take in one of the Seven Wonders of the World.

The University of Arkansas won recognition in the 2019 CASE District III Awards Competition, which selects "the very best in advancement across the Southeast." The Award of Excellence in the Recruitment Website or Microsite category recognizes the Honors Passport study abroad website, which the Honors College developed in collaboration with University Relations and local designers. Since 2016 projects led by Honors College and University Relations personnel have won five CASE awards and four Telly awards. 

"The CASE District III competition drew more than 900 entries this year, and our judging coordinators all commented on the high quality of work submitted. This latest award validates the hard work and creativity of our staff here at the University of Arkansas, as well as the value of collaborative efforts," said Roy Cordell, University Relations' Senior Director of Creative Services. Cordell serves on the CASE District III board and conference committee.

The Honors College and University Relations worked together to document Honors Passport study abroad experiences that took students, faculty and staff to historically and culturally significant sites throughout Peru in January 2017 and to points along the storied Camino de Santiago pilgrimage route through France and Spain in May 2018. Team members included Kendall Curlee, director of communications; Russell Cothren, manager of photographic services; John Cooper, managing producer of video productions; and Samantha Kirby, senior editor. Ali Williams, a web designer and developer with Red Rooster Design, developed the web site; Tony Steck, senior art director at DOXA, assisted with graphic design. The exceptional honors students and faculty who participated in Honors Passport excursions to Peru, France and Spain also contributed greatly to the award-winning website. 

The Honors Passport site highlights the Peru and Pilgrimage intersession courses with immersive video clips, vivid photographs and copy, and a series of short videos. Special features include an interactive map on the Pilgrimage page that invites users to follow along on the journey. 

"The goal of this enterprise is to highlight just how vital a short but well-researched study abroad experience can be," said Lynda Coon, dean of the Honors College, who developed the Honors Passport course. "We have also shared the exceptional photos and videos captured on these trips, providing professional documentation of study abroad to units across campus."

Footage shot in Peru, France and Spain has been used in the "Short Takes" video series, in a promotional video for the Office of Study Abroad and will be featured for the third year in the "All in for Arkansas" fundraising campaign. Cothren's photographs have been featured in Arkansas and A-plus magazines and other print and online communications across campus; his photos from Peru are currently on display in the Honors College wing of Gearhart Hall. Team members are currently working on Buen Camino, a 30-minute video highlighting the pilgrimage trip last May.

"It's always a pleasure to work with our friends at University Relations, and we're so pleased that yet again, our team has won recognition for their efforts to promote the tremendous international education opportunities here at the U of A," said Lynda Coon.