TCU is the recipient of several recent awards for its marketing and communication efforts, including work on the university’s 150th anniversary. The university earned accolades from the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) and the University Photographers’ Association of American (UPAA).
“These international and national recognitions emphasize the quality and impact of our ongoing work to tell TCU’s academic story and elevate our brand. We are immensely proud of the work in our division, as well as that of our colleges and partners,” said Tracy Syler-Jones, vice chancellor for TCU Marketing & Communication (MKC). “Many of these award-winning projects include several of the Sesquicentennial initiatives and the national awareness campaign, which makes these extra special. Our team has worked probably harder this year than ever, so I am so pleased to see their efforts rewarded.”
CASE
The CASE Circle of Excellence Awards showcase the work of universities worldwide in
advancement services, alumni relations, communications and marketing. This year, less
than 15% of the 4,000 entries were recognized; only 12 of the 260 institutions in
TCU’s district were recognized.
MKC earned silver in the microsites category for the university’s 150th anniversary microsite. The site, produced fully in house, celebrates TCU’s past, present and future in a content-rich web experience. The website features opportunities for connection everywhere — downloading digital swag, exploring the interactive timeline, reading stories, finding events to attend or even making a gift.
MKC also earned bronze in the environmental graphics category for the more-than 400 installations of environmental graphics around campus celebrating TCU’s 150th. These graphics, which include multistory banners, stair decals, light pole banners and more, feature a brightly colored gradient created specifically to showcase a modern aesthetic for the Sesquicentennial.
The Anne Burnett Marion School of Medicine at TCU was awarded bronze in the student
engagement category for the Burnett Brand Ambassadors Program. Students help raise
awareness about the medical school among key audiences through social media campaigns,
media placements and more, while developing marketing and communications skills that
are useful in their future medical careers.
UPAA
The UPAA recognizes excellence in university photography, videography and other visual
storytelling with annual and quarterly Narrative Series Competitions. Entries are
judged by a panel of peer university photographers. Three projects were selected in
the annual competition.
Earning second place in the social media category was the TCU at the College Football
Playoff National Championship video, which commemorated the fan experience at TCU’s historic appearance at the
championship game. Also earning second place in the video/cine category, was the Lead On, Courageously. Katherine Beattie's Story video, a mini documentary that is part of TCU’s 150th mural campaign recognizing
alumni leaders around the country. The piece highlights how Beattie ’08 is a Hollywood
writer/producer who also serves as a disability advocate in the entertainment industry.
Finally, TCU earned third place in the video/cine category for TCU’s 2022-23 Institutional Spot: Lead On 150, which serves as TCU’s television commercial and one of the most prominent recruiting tools. The video explores values important to Gen Z prospective students and demonstrates the university’s legacy of building leaders. It reached an estimated 58 million viewers.
In addition to the annual UPAA awards, TCU was selected as a winner in the quarterly competition for two projects. Earning first place in the social media category was the TCU Celebrates Desmond Bane in Nashville video, which recapped the event celebrating the alumni leader and mural subject, Bane ’20. Earning fourth place in the video/cine category was the Lead On, Confidently. Desmond Bane’s Story video. Similar to Beattie’s mini documentary, this video captures the story of the NBA star who uses his platform to give back to underserved youth.