Brand Updates

MSU staff members win CASE awards for publications, videos, events and design

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Missouri State University staff members are the recipients of nine CASE District VI 2021 Institutional Awards. This includes two Grand Golds, the district’s highest honor.

CASE, the Council for Advancement and Support of Education, is a nonprofit that supports alumni relations, communications, development and marketing professionals at educational institutions worldwide.

MSU is in CASE District VI, which includes Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wyoming.

These awards recognize work from this district that showcases best practices and builds strong relationships with alumni, donors, potential students and other constituencies.

MSU’s entries competed against a large field of more than 300 submissions, reviewed by more than 70 judges.

2021 awards

Grand Gold in Publications/Student Recruitment-Viewbooks and Prospectuses: Variable Data Viewbook

From the judges: “This is a fantastic example of customizing an experience based on a user. The writing and photography are also excellent. This is a game-changing concept with measurable outcomes, since the team can show a direct correlation to increase in web traffic when these publications were mailed.”

Front cover of variable data viewbook

Lead team members:

  • Veronica Adinegara, senior graphic designer, editorial and design services
  • Michelle S. Rose, assistant director of editorial, editorial and design services
  • Contributing photographer Kevin White, assistant director, office of visual media
  • Contributing photographer Jesse Scheve, photographer, office of visual media
  • Mark A. McCarty, manager of printing and postal services
  • Austin Hubbard, pre-press technician, printing and postal services
  • Julie C. Spinabella, administrative coordinator of data and communications
  • Benjamin P. Metzger, associate director of admissions/operations and systems

Grand Gold in Video/Fundraising-Short: Onward, Upward: The Campaign for Missouri State University

From the judges: “Excellent use of famous alum. Script was really good. Inspiring use of ‘Here come the Bears’ and transition to today’s campus.”

 

Lead team members:

  • Chris Nagle, assistant director, office of visual media
  • Kevin Agee, content strategist, university communications
  • Brent Dunn, vice president for university advancement
  • Suzanne Shaw, vice president for marketing and communications
  • Stephanie Smith, senior director of donor relations and special events

Additional support provided by the offices of development, university communications and visual media.

Gold in Special Events-Single Day: It’s ON — Missouri State University “Onward, Upward” Campaign Launch Event

From the judges: “THIS is how a successful campaign looks, feels and lives. The Missouri State University ‘Onward, Upward’ campaign is a gem on all accounts. Unique aspect of keeping a secret while also inspiring attendees to come. Great marketing materials. Outstanding work!”

Stage and auditorium full as streamers fly through air at It's On announcement.

Lead team member:

  • Stephanie Smith, senior director of donor relations and special events

Additional support from members of the offices of alumni relations, development and the Division of Marketing and Communications.

Gold in Video/PSAs and Commercial Spots: “This is the right place, this is the right time”

From the judges: “Well done. Great placement for a famous alumnus. Great messaging in the time constraints.”

Lead team members:

  • Chris Nagle, assistant director, office of visual media
  • Suzanne Shaw, vice president for marketing and communications
  • Bob Linder, former director, office of visual media
  • Kevin Agee, content strategist, university communications

Silver in Publications/Fundraising-Case Statements/General Cultivation Publications: Onward, Upward Master Case Statement

From the judges: “A comprehensive campaign case statement is a major undertaking, and this one is nicely done. The campaign name and the logo have great movement, and lots of possibilities. They carried this through with a compelling story.”

Case statement for the Onward Upward campaign.

Lead team members:

  • Amy Schuldt, assistant director of design, editorial and design services
  • Michelle S. Rose, assistant director of editorial, editorial and design services
  • Wendy Ferguson, executive director of development
  • Lauren Stockam, graduate assistant, university communications

Silver in Publications/Institutional Relations-Research Publications: 2019 Mind’s Eye

Cover of 2019 Mind's Eye, featuring Lisa Brescia in NYC's Times Square.

From the judges: “This publication is a great example of sharing research activities with excellent storytelling and readability.”

Lead team members:

  • Nicki Donnelson, assistant director, university communications
  • Teri Poindexter, graphic designer, editorial and design services
  • Contributing writers:
    • Andrea Mostyn, director of university communications
    • Emily Yeap, public relations specialist, university communications
    • Kevin Agee, content strategist, university communications
    • Graduate assistants Lauren Stockam and Tori York
    • Lucie Amberg, former strategic communications specialist for the Reynolds College of Arts and Letters
  • Contributing photographers:
    • Bob Linder, former director, office of visual media
    • Kevin White, assistant director, office of visual media
    • Jesse Scheve, photographer, office of visual media

Silver in Video on a Shoestring: “Better Than Ever”

From the judges: “Good energy. Student and alumni pride was clear.”

Lead team members:

  • Chris Nagle, assistant director, office of visual media
  • Kevin Agee, content strategist, university communications
  • Suzanne Shaw, vice president for marketing and communications
  • Clif Smart, university president

Silver in Video/Student Recruitment-Long: “Mind’s Eye: Putting it all out there”

 

Lead team members:

  • Nicki Donnelson, assistant director, university communications
  • Chris Nagle, assistant director, office of visual media
  • Kevin White, assistant director, office of visual media
  • Lisa Brescia, assistant professor, theatre and dance
  • Lucie Amberg, former strategic communications specialist for the Reynolds College of Arts and Letters

Bronze in Design for Publications (Multi-Page): 2019 Mind’s Eye

From the judges: “Very nice piece, whether in print or video. … This took a lot of coordinating and expense to create. Well-written and diverse selections for highlighted stories.”

Lead team members:

  • Nicki Donnelson, assistant director, university communications
  • Teri Poindexter, graphic designer, editorial and design services
  • Contributing photographers:
    • Bob Linder, former director, office of visual media
    • Kevin White, assistant director, office of visual media
    • Jesse Scheve, photographer, office of visual media

MSU marketing materials win CASE awards

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Missouri State University’s editorial and design services team won seven awards at the CASE 2020 District VI Institutional Awards.

You can see the winning pieces in a slideshow: CASE-awards-2020.pdf.

CASE stands for the Council for Advancement and Support of Education. It’s a nonprofit that serves professionals who work in alumni relations, communications, development, marketing and other related areas.

MSU’s editorial and design services is part of the university’s Marketing and Communications Division.

MSU’s EDS team entered their work — publications, graphic design, writing and other creative endeavors — in several categories. They competed against other universities from across the district’s eight-state region.

EDS team members, marketing staff members and clients across the university who worked on these projects won the following:

  • Bronze in Editorial Design for a Missouri State magazine piece: “The efactory: A Place for Movers, Shakers, Dreamers and Doers.”
  • Gold in Design-Invitations for the It’s On campaign launch invitation.
  • Bronze in Design-Posters for the 32nd annual Wine & Food Celebration poster.
  • Bronze in Student Recruitment Publications: Publication Packages for items related to MSU’s Admitted Student Day.
  • Silver in Institutional Relations Publications: President’s Reports and Annual Reports for the 2018 Foundation Annual Report.
  • Bronze in Institutional Relations Publications: Research Publication for 2018 Mind’s Eye.
  • Bronze in News Writing-Periodical Staff Writing for feature stories in Missouri State magazine.

Missouri State’s editorial and design services team has a long history of bringing home CASE awards. This means our branding and outreach materials meet and exceed best practices for marketing!

Need help creating brochures or flyers? Try our templates

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Do you write and design brochures or flyers? Or do you want to create these pieces, but aren’t sure where to start?

We have resources for you.

You can now download templates for flyers and tri-fold brochures in the university’s brand website.

Choose from either Microsoft Word or Adobe InDesign templates.

You will have a great starting point for a layout that is in brand.

You will also see best practices for text, so writing your content in-brand should be easy.

University advancement sub-brand finds its voice

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With the launch of the university advancement sub-brand, special focus is given to messaging to ensure maximum readability when writing for alumni, donor and friends of Missouri State.

Below are some of the best practices being executed in the development of sub-brand text to boost comprehension, retention and action.

Contributed by Michelle Rose

Shorter is better

  • Shorter paragraphs
    • One to three sentences. Three is max. 25 words max for lead, i.e., first paragraph.
  • Shorter sentences
    • Eight words is perfect sentence length; occasionally longer is OK; 21 words should be max
  • Shorter words
    • Goal is five characters; one syllable or two is ideal

Be visual

  • Use large images
  • Break up text with infographics/numbers/timelines

Ellis Hall

More entry points

  • In text longer than 250 words, ensure there is at least one overall headline, and a minimum of two subheads
  • Create infographics
    • If something is a number, date, fact, timeline, etc., pop it out in a large box rather than keep it in paragraph or narrative-style text
  • Use more “chunks” of information
    • For fact-based stories that don’t have a natural story arc (nonprofiles, nonnarratives), break out each “thought” or thesis into its own chunk, complete with a mini headline or subhead
  • Break out all calls to action

Flex voice to connect with readers

  • Ask more questions (How will you inspire others? Etc.)
  • Be personal by using more us/you/we language (i.e., not “The university will endeavor to accomplish the goals” but “we will reach our goals.”)
  • Don’t use passive sentences
  • Focus on MSU pride and more use of the words from the overall university branding campaign

Let’s get personal

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VDP example

With a little planning and a lot of data, you can reach your target audience with specialized messaging through variable data printing.

Missouri State is reaching out to prospective students through personalized messaging that provides information that is relevant and timely.

Working in partnership with the publications office and printing services, the admissions office reaches high school students throughout the semester, with targeted publications. Each print piece is complimented by digital campaigns and student calling efforts.