International Spotlight on IC

By Bob Wagner, June 26, 2023

IC receives three prestigious Circle of Excellence Awards from CASE.

Ithaca College received a trio of Circle of Excellence Awards from the Council for Advancement and Support of Education.

Ithaca College has received three prestigious Circle of Excellence Awards from CASE, the Council for Advancement and Support of Education. The annual awards recognize exceptional achievement in institutional branding strategy and implementation, marketing, communications, alumni relations, fundraising, and advancement services.

The two Gold awards and one Silver award captured by the college are in recognition of the marketing, creative, and communications team’s outstanding work in storytelling, communications initiatives, and institutional branding.

Laurie Koehler, vice president for marketing and enrollment strategy, said the coveted CASE Circle of Excellence Awards are important and meaningful not only to her team but also to the entire college community and its constituents.

“These accolades put us in an international spotlight and place us high among the prestigious institutions with which we compete for students, faculty, staff, and financial support.” said Koehler. “In addition to recognizing the talent and stellar work of our in-house staff members, doing well in these competitions helps advance our reputation among our peers.”

These CASE awards showcase outstanding work of higher education—inspiring projects that impact institutions and their communities and transform lives around the globe. “Our 2023 honorees—from diverse institutions and teams of all sizes—are bold, creative, and resourceful,” said Sue Cunningham, president and CEO of CASE.

“Being honored by CASE is a point of pride for all members of the IC community,” concluded Koehler.

Gold for Storytelling

IC was honored by CASE with a Gold Award in the “Storytelling” category for its People of Progress campaign, one of just five schools globally to be recognized in this category and only one of two institutions to receive this award.

IC was honored by CASE with a Gold Award in the “Storytelling” category for its People of Progress campaign. The judges remarked, “We're always told to tell stories about people. This campaign does that so well, aligning with the brand and having clear criteria for its subjects.”

Gold for Communications Initiatives

The college also received a Gold Award in the “Communications Initiatives” category for its strategy, messaging, and implementation of the Ithaca Commitment pricing and value marketing campaign. IC was one of just three schools from CASE’s international membership to receive this honor.

IC received a Gold Award in the “Communications Initiatives” category for its strategy, messaging, and implementation of the Ithaca Commitment pricing and value marketing campaign. The judges commented, “The initiative is well thought-out and flawlessly implemented. A unique endeavor that serves as a great example for other institutions.”

Silver for Institutional Branding

In addition, IC received a Silver Award in the “Institutional Branding” category for the development and implementation of the college’s comprehensive brand strategy and platform. IC was one of just five institutions recognized in this category.

IC received a Silver Award in the “Institutional Branding” category for the development and implementation of the college’s comprehensive brand strategy and platform. The judges called the entry, “A strong approach and strategy for upholding the brand combined with extensive research. The outcome was cohesive, showed a knowledge of audience, and included strong visuals and messaging.”