Central College received institutional awards from District VI of the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) for a pair of communications initiatives. Central won the Silver Award for Innovative Uses of Technology: Public Relations and Marketing, for its Iowa Private College Week digital advertising campaign. Also, Central was the Bronze Award winner for Recruitment Videos with its admittance video.
Earlier, Central received the CASE Educational Fundraising Award for exceptional development programs.
The digital ad campaign was designed, created and managed by digital promotion director Jenae Stokesbary, with support from assistant communications director for online media Jacob Oyen and others on the Central communications staff. The 10-day social media campaign promoted event registration for the college’s largest annual admission event, Iowa Private College Week (IPCW), held Aug. 1-5. The ad creative mirrored the design of printed postcards, invitations and reminders. Utilizing Instagram, Facebook and Twitter, ad sets targeted students who previously engaged with Central College online. The campaign also used weekly registration reminders and social media graphics.
Stokesbary, a 2011 Central graduate, is in her first year on the communications office staff. Oyen is a 2004 Central graduate.
The admittance video was produced by Joshua Edmonds, with contributions from Oyen as well as Stokesbary and other communications office staff members. The video was sent to students upon the college’s acceptance of their application for admission. It sought to showcase the campus, underlaying Central’s brand pillars messaging and motivating students to make their next move in the admission process.
Edmonds, a University of Kentucky graduate, joined the Central communications staff in April.
CASE supports alumni relations, communications, development and marketing professionals at more than 3,400 educational institutions worldwide. District VI represents professionals and institutions in Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wyoming.
The awards will be presented at the District V & VI Joint Conference Dec. 11-13 in Chicago.