By 1808Delaware
In a resounding affirmation of its creative momentum and community impact, Ohio Wesleyan University has earned three international 2025 Circle of Excellence Awards from the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) — a global recognition for “exceptional achievement” in storytelling, message delivery, and constituent engagement.
This year’s CASE competition featured more than 4,400 entries from 33 countries, highlighting the most dynamic and effective communications strategies in the education world. OWU stood out among the entries, securing two Silver Awards and one Bronze for initiatives that celebrate connection, innovation, and joy.
“We’re Rewriting the Playbook”
“These awards affirm what we already know about our brilliant faculty and staff, and our committed alumni and friends,” said President Matt vandenBerg. “OWU isn’t merely building momentum – we’re rewriting the playbook for how institutions galvanize communities, tell their stories, and lead with joy.”
That playbook — filled with bold ideas and collaborative spirit — was on full display in each of OWU’s winning submissions.
A Weeklong Inaugural Celebration of Inclusion and Impact
Ohio Wesleyan earned a Special Events Bronze Award for Community, Creativity, Collaboration, and Celebration: A Presidential Inauguration Transforms a Campus. The weeklong celebration that welcomed President vandenBerg as OWU’s 17th president was anything but traditional.
With groundbreaking announcements — including new scholarship programs and strategic partnerships with Columbus State Community College and South Carolina’s Claflin University — the inauguration was recast as a celebration of the entire campus community. CASE judges praised the inclusivity and innovation, calling it “an excellent model for reimagining traditional university inaugurations.”
Rolling With the President: Dr. V’s Trivia Taxi
Taking inspiration from the hit TV show “Cash Cab,” President vandenBerg himself took the wheel in Dr. V’s Trivia Taxi, a video campaign that earned a Video/Holiday/Year-End Silver Award.
In the festive feature, vandenBerg quizzed passengers on OWU trivia, generating laughs and engagement while highlighting key moments of the academic year. CASE judges praised the concept as fun, fresh, and replicable, noting its massive success on social media.
Alumni in Action: The A/PART Program
The university also won a Silver Award in Alumni Relations Initiatives for its Alumni/Parent Admission Recruitment Team (A/PART) program. By bridging the efforts of the Alumni & Family Engagement and Enrollment offices, A/PART transforms alumni and parent involvement into a powerful recruitment engine.
“This program has the potential to grow in years to come,” CASE judges wrote, recognizing both the creativity and strategic value of the initiative.
Global Recognition with Local Roots
The awards come from CASE, a global association representing over 97,000 advancement professionals in 80 countries. With its mission to “champion education to transform lives and society,” CASE celebrates institutions that push boundaries and lead with purpose.
In its award notification, CASE encouraged OWU to spread the word. “This is no small feat,” the organization wrote. “You should be proud of this accomplishment and eager to share it with the world. We certainly will!”
As Ohio Wesleyan continues to energize its campus culture and expand its impact, these honors mark more than a successful year — they signal a bold and joyful future, one story at a time.
Source: OWU; Ohio Wesleyan earned three 2025 international CASE Circle of Excellence Awards, including for its weeklong inauguration celebration of Matt vandenBerg, OWU’s 17th president. (Photo by James D. DeCamp)
