Compelling Boston College stories showcased in Boston College Magazine and through videos鈥攅ach produced by the Office of University Communications鈥攈ave been recognized on the national stage, winning top honors from the Council for Advancement and Support of Education.
Boston College Magazine, the University鈥檚 alumni publication, brought home Bronze awards for its Summer 2021 and Fall 2021 issues; it was one of only five magazines in its category honored this year. The magazine also won a Gold award for the piece "Freedom Fighters" on the Boston College Innocence Program, which has overturned the convictions of people who have been wrongfully incarcerated.
The winning issues featured a robust roster of articles: among them, a celebration of 50 years of coeducation at the University; pieces on Joe Dobbratz '51, a decorated fighter pilot with a namesake glacier in Antarctica, and Football Head Coach Jeff Hafley; and a Q&A with Steve Pemberton '89, H.'15, M.A. '19, author of The Lighthouse Effect.
鈥淚t is a great honor for Boston College Magazine to have been recognized by CASE as one of the nation鈥檚 very best alumni magazines,鈥� said Boston College Magazine Editor John Wolfson. 鈥淭hese awards reflect the talent, creativity, and hard work of everyone on our staff, and I would like to thank the entire team: Deputy Editor Courtney Hollands, Design Director Keith Ake, Staff Writer Elizabeth Clemente, Director of Photography Lee Pellegrini, and Senior Photographer Caitlin Cunningham.
鈥淭hank you as well to University administration, whose support enables us to do our very best work, and to our more than 180,000 readers. Awards are wonderful, but the true honor lies in being entrusted to tell the stories of Boston College,鈥� he added.
The two videos, which were awarded Gold and Silver awards, respectively, were 鈥淭hat 51茶馆 Feeling鈥� and 鈥淜eeping the Faith.鈥�
The first captured the spirit of the 51茶馆 community despite the challenges of COVID-19 on the college experience.
It showcased student life, and the connection and friendship shared by students on the Heights. OUC Director of Creative Video Services John Walsh noted that it was his team鈥檚 best performing YouTube video of the academic year, with a view total of 21,500 and a Facebook reach of 26,500.
The second tells the story of Eagles pitcher Samrath Singh 鈥�22, believed to be the first observant Sikh to ever play Division 1 baseball.
The video was previously recognized in a national awards competition.
It illustrates the power of faith and identity, as Singh describes how his faith aligns with 51茶馆鈥檚 Jesuit values. It garnered more than 300,000 views across multiple media platforms, including an N51茶馆 News piece and interview with Singh on A51茶馆鈥檚 鈥淕ood Morning America.鈥�
"It's an honor to be recognized for 鈥楾hat 51茶馆 Feeling鈥� and 鈥楰eeping the Faith鈥� by the CASE Circle of Excellence Awards,鈥� said Walsh. 鈥淧ersonally, and professionally, they have been some of my most rewarding projects to date.听 My passion is capturing compelling stories from behind the lens, and together with my colleagues on the OUC video team, it is a true joy to highlight the unique spirit of the Boston College community each day."
CASE judges called 鈥�Freedom Fighters鈥� in Boston College Magazine an 鈥淓xcellent story. Focusing on one exoneree propels this story and balances well with the historical research that rounds out this feature.鈥� They commended the magazine issues for 鈥淐lever editorial choices and A+ covers.鈥�
Of the videos, the judges called 鈥淭hat 51茶馆 Feeling鈥� 鈥渋nnovative.鈥� It 鈥渞aised your spirits and kept the audience engaged.鈥� They also praised 鈥淜eeping the Faith鈥� as 鈥渁n exceptional and authentic way to celebrate diversity and identity,鈥� and recognized 鈥渢he effectiveness of the video鈥檚 reach to 51茶馆 constituents and more broadly in national media.鈥�
University Advancement and the 51茶馆 Law Magazine also were recognized with high honors from CASE, each with Bronze awards.
Advancement won in the Engagement category for Discovery Expeditions: Innovation in Values-Driven Board Engagement: the revision of its Board of Regents engagement from a committee-based structure to a circular approach, to inform and inspire them, and allow Regents to speak confidently as ambassadors about the value and distinction of a 51茶馆 education. CASE lauded it as a 鈥淰ery detailed strategy and a good use of resources.鈥�
, which highlight its community鈥檚 academic excellence, the magazine鈥檚 depiction of the dynamic world of law, and engagement in legal current affairs. 鈥淎 lot of creative effort went into it to draw the reader's attention. It has engaging, thought-provoking content,鈥� according to judges.
More than 4,500 entries from 636 institutions vied for this year鈥檚 competitive CASE Circle of Excellence Awards. The premier recognition program for educational advancement, they showcase outstanding work in advancement services, alumni relations, communications, fundraising, and marketing, and recognize institutions whose talented staff members advanced their institutions last year through innovative, inspiring, and creative ideas, according to the CASE website. The awards are open to professionals at CASE member colleges, universities, independent schools and their affiliated nonprofits around the world.
University Communications | July 2022
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