Western Carolina University

Western Carolina University’s communication and media relations efforts recently received four awards of recognition from a national higher education organization.

The awards were presented as part of the Council for Advancement and Support of Education’s District III conference held Feb. 17-20 in Atlanta. CASE is the leading educational association for professionals in the field of institutional advancement.

The Reporter, WCU’s newsletter for faculty and staff, won the Grand Award in the tabloid/newsletter publishing improvement category. Teresa Killian, editor; Bill Studenc, associate editor; Rubae Sander, art director; designer John Balentine; photographer Mark Haskett; and assistant photographer Ashley T. Evans were recognized in the achievement. The newsletter was extensively redesigned with large photographs and fresh news and feature stories to help build enthusiasm for the campus phase of a major fund-raising campaign.

The entry “The Program for the Study of Developed Shorelines” was a Grand Award finalist in the media relations project category and won the Award of Excellence. The award recognized Bill Studenc, senior director of news services at WCU, for a yearlong media campaign to promote the relocation of the Program for the Study of Developed Shorelines from Duke University to Western.

“The Campaign for Western” viewbook won a Special Merit Award in the fundraising category. Campaign coordinator Brett Woods; writers Leila Tvedt and Bill Studenc; Rubae Sander, director of publications; designer Katie Martin; and photographers Mark Haskett and Ashley T. Evans were cited for their contributions. The viewbook was developed to provide university fundraisers with an attractive information piece to share with potential donors for WCU’s first ever comprehensive fundraising campaign with a goal of $40 million.

The feature article “Scholarship Reconsidered,” by Bill Studenc, won Special Merit Award in the general news/feature writing category. The article was designed to help the general public understand Western’s newly adopted tenure, promotion and reappointment policy rewarding faculty members for helping solve regional problems.

CASE District III advances and supports educational and professional institutions in the southeastern United States by enhancing the effectiveness of the alumni relations, fundraising, communications, marketing and other advancement professionals who serve them.

Maintained by the Office of Public Relations
Last Modified: Thursday, Feb. 28, 2008