Central College received a silver in the Circle of Excellence Awards hosted by the Council for Advancement and Support of Education. The award-winning entry, “On Track for Greatness Campaign,” features Scotty Johnson, Class of 2026 business management and psychology major from Dallas, Iowa.
“Central is fortunate to have a team of incredibly talented and creative individuals, who bring great ideas to life,” says Sunny Gonzales Eighmy, vice president for advancement and a 1999 Central graduate. “It’s rewarding to be recognized professionally and I’m grateful to work alongside this team.”
In its entry, Central outlined the campaign’s goal: To increase financial support for the Journey Scholarship Fund, the college’s primary designation for annual gifts. The communications and marketing team interviewed Johnson in his car shop and at a sprint car race in Knoxville, Iowa, creating a video along with direct mail and email messages to 15,000 alumni and members of the Central family.
The direct-mail piece included a link to the Johnson video and a link to donate to the Journey Scholarship Fund. The campaign was a huge success, raising $95,662 — a 121% increase from the previous year.
All graphics, photography, videography and creative work were completed in-house by the Central communications and marketing team.
The judges’ comments included, “A seamless campaign that carried its look and feel across a multi-channel effort. Its student-focus and tangible connection resulted in excellent return on investment and an increase in giving from the institution’s donor base.”
The Circle of Excellence Awards celebrate colleges, universities and schools whose talented staff advance their institutions with ingenuity and resourcefulness. These creative, inspiring projects impact educational communities and transform lives around the world.
In 2025, teams from 640 institutions in 33 countries entered the awards, submitting 4,460 entries. The 93 award categories span all advancement disciplines, including magazines and publications, fundraising campaigns, alumni initiatives, special events, marketing, leadership video and more. CASE award winners may be viewed at www.case.org/awards/circle-excellence
