OHIO Alumni Association, alumni magazines win numerous prestigious awards
The summer 2017 issue of ohiotoday was themed "Creativity."
Ohio University’s alumni magazines, ohiotoday and ohiowomen, and several of the OHIO Alumni Association’s programs and events have won notable awards from two professional associations.
ohiotoday and ohiowomen received a Bronze Award for Best Alumni Magazine in the 2017 Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) Pride of CASE V awards. CASE is a national organization that distinguishes advancement programs that strengthen higher education.
ohiotoday’s summer 2017 issue, which featured a new design, and ohiowomen’s November 2016 issue were recognized with the award, which will be presented at a banquet in Chicago in December. The latest issues of the magazines, as well as an archive of past issues, are available at ohiotoday.org.
“Each issue of ohiotoday reflects the very definition of teamwork,” Editor Kelee Riesbeck said. “ohiotoday exists because of this spirit of sharing and collaboration. It’s an honor to be recognized for our work by CASE, our stalwart professional association.”
“OHIO Photo Renga,” a photo series which appeared in the winter 2017 issue of ohiotoday, also won an Award in Excellence for Photography in the University and College Designers Association’s (UCDA) 2017 Design Competition. UCDA aims to foster growth and professionalism in designers working in academia.
The series featured multiple photographers, each responding to the previous photo in an individualized way, creating a complementary series. University Photographer Ben Siegel organized the piece.
“I appreciate the creative support provided by the editors at ohiotoday, and I am happy to have had the opportunity to work with some of Ohio University’s prominent photography instructors and alumni on this project,” Siegel said.
The OHIO Alumni Association and Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine were also recognized by CASE for strong efforts to enhance the University through organized events and effective communication.
“The Association is excited and honored to receive the awards through CASE V. We have a great staff that truly believes in engaging our alumni at a high level, and I think these awards show we are doing just that,” Interim Assistant Vice President of Alumni Relations David Bambrey said. “We also get to work with great volunteers every day that allow for these awards to be possible.”
The University received one Gold Award for Best Diversity Program, given to the Ebony Bobcat Network Expansion. The 2016 Black Alumni Reunion (BAR) planning committee earned a Silver Award for Best Volunteer Engagement Program, and the BAR talent show earned a Bronze Award for Best Student Alumni Programming.
The BAR, which takes place every three years on the Athens campus, is a weekend packed with events that allow alumni to reconnect and reminisce. The 2016 theme was “Straight Outta OHIO!”
“The Black Alumni Reunion is really a fantastic event and something that our office and the BAR planning committee worked extremely hard to bring together,” Bambrey said. “The talent show was a prime example of an event that came out of an idea of the committee and provided a wonderful opportunity for students and alumni to not only interact, but also experience the many generations that were in the room that evening.”
The Association was also awarded a Silver Award for Best New Alumni Program for the food truck festival, a new event that took place during 2017’s On the Green Weekend.
CASE also recognized the Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine with a Bronze Award for Best Event on a Shoestring. The award honored the College’s April 2017 Osteopathic Medicine Recognition Month (OMRM), which celebrated significant medical achievement in the osteopathic profession. The event also commended State Rep. Terry Johnson, a 1991 Heritage College graduate, who drafted a bill acknowledging the 40th anniversary of the College and its contributions of Ohio’s osteopathic physicians and organizations.
“For the college, our communication staff members and especially for our 1991 alumnus, Terry Johnson, D.O., who put forth the bill creating OMRM, it’s a pleasure and honor to receive the award,” Heritage College Chief Communications Officer Karoline Lane said. “Every communication staff member had a hand in the success of this integrated marketing communications campaign. It was a fantastic showcase for their talents. The creative work is just beautiful, and the team executed flawlessly across many media—social media, speeches, exhibits, video, web sites and more.”
The fall 2016 issue of ohiowomen was included in the CASE V award.
Fellow Bobcats strike a pose in the photo booth during the 2016 Black Alumni Reunion Gala.