UIU earns national marketing award for TV ad, also nets 3 regional marketing honors
FAYETTE, Iowa (February 25, 2011) — Upper Iowa University has been notified that it has received four communications awards – three for a television ad that aired Summer 2010 and one for its website.
The television ad, which also aired in regional movie theaters over the summer was entitled, “Blockbuster,” and focused on the first phase of a $75 million capital improvement that is under way on UIU’s Fayette campus, promoting the grand opening of two of the buildings over Homecoming Weekend 2010. The award-winning ad can be viewed to the right.
The UIU ad received a “gold” recognition in the 26th Annual Educational Advertising Awards, a national competition conducted by the Higher Education Marketing Report and the HMR Publications Group. The Educational Advertising Awards is the largest educational advertising awards competition in the country. This year, more than 2,500 entries were received from more than 1,000 colleges, universities and secondary schools from all 50 states and several foreign countries. Only 214 gold awards were given. UIU’s ad won in the “Television Advertising/Single” category, Group 3 (schools with 5,000-9,999 students).
“UIU is in the midst of historic growth and significant change,” said UIU President Alan G. Walker. “We are an ascending university that has seen six consecutive years of increased enrollment and expansion of our online and community-based educational centers. We have a great story to tell, and we are pleased to be recognized for some of the ways we are telling it.”
“In producing this ad, we were looking for a way to tie together the president’s vision for the future of Upper Iowa University with the excitement of a project that is changing the face of our residential campus and that reflects the growth and energy across the entire University – all in just 30 seconds,” said Melik Peter Khoury, UIU senior vice president. “The final ad gives the feeling of a movie preview, which is why we decided to show the ad on the big screens in regional movie theaters as well.”
The ad was produced in collaboration with ME&V, Cedar Falls, Iowa.
The UIU “Blockbuster” ad also received two regional awards: a silver award from the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) District VI in the “Television Ad” category, and a silver ADDY award from the American Advertising Federation Cedar Valley Chapter in the category of “National TV, Consumer Services.” The ADDYS are the advertising industry’s largest competition, attracting more than 50,000 entries a year. Winning a local ADDY is the first step in a three-tiered, national competition. Local winners will now compete against other winners at the district level, and district winners will compete nationally.
UIU also received a “bronze” award for its website (www.uiu.edu) in the 26th Annual Educational Advertising Awards in Group 3 of the “Website” category. UIU’s partner in designing the university’s website is Stamats in Cedar Rapids.
Contact:
Monica Bayer Heaton
Executive Director of Communications and Marketing
Phone: 563-425-5773
Cell: 515-291-2070
heatonm@uiu.edu
About Upper Iowa University
Founded in 1857, Upper Iowa University is a private, not-for-profit university providing undergraduate and graduate degree programs and leadership development opportunities to over 6,600 students—nationally and internationally—at its Fayette campus and learning centers worldwide. Upper Iowa University is a recognized innovator in offering accredited, quality programs through flexible, multiple delivery systems, including online and independent study. For more information, visit www.uiu.edu.