MEDIA RELEASE

The University of Hawaii Alumni Association (UHAA) and the University of Hawaii Foundation (UHF) have been awarded three top awards for communication from the Council for Advancement and Support of Education’s (CASE) District VII.

CASE awarded UHAA the GoldCircle of Excellence Award for its recently updated “Lokahi – Haaheo – Onipaa” visual identity system in the Integrated Advancement Programs – Visual Identity Systems category.

A major shift in UHAA’s membership structure in 2010 created a free, all-inclusive membership level for all alumni in addition to its paid levels. UHAA needed to present these new membership levels in a way that communicated its core values.

A UHAA board member suggested that the Hawaiian concepts of Lokahi (unity), Haaheo (pride) and Onipaa (steadfastness) were fitting to represent the levels. They also verbally convey a strong sense of place – one of the university’s greatest assets, in terms of alumni affinity.

To visually depict these concepts, UHAA chose to use images that represented elements of Hawaiian culture: kalo (taro plants), lau hala (woven Hala tree leaves) and pohaku (stones). This visual theme was then incorporated it into the UHAA website, membership materials, advertising and more, and continues to be used.

UHAA also received the Bronze Circle of Excellence for its Life Member Calendar, in the Communications and Marketing Programs – Excellence In Design – Calendars category.

The 2011 Alumni Art Calendar was created to use as a gift to life members of the University of Hawaii Alumni Association. The art featured in the calendar was all the work of UH alumni. UHAA held a contest, and the 12 winning images were selected from more than 300 entries by a panel of judges.

The University of Hawaii Foundation was awarded the Silver Circle of Excellence Award in the Communications & Marketing Programs – Individual Fundraising Publications – Annual Reports and Fund Reports category. The winning publication was the 2010 Annual Report “Pulling Together, Moving Forward.”

The annual report is the Foundation’s report to the community that highlights the impact private support is making on the 10 University of Hawaii campuses.

The report also features core financial information to help keep donors and the public informed about funds raised and distributed for the benefit of the university.

“We are honored to be recognized with these highly competitive, prestigious awards,” said Janet Bullard, vice president for marketing and communications – alumni and donor relations. “Through our communications we strive to inspire our donors and alumni, build affinity and pride in the University of Hawaii, and celebrate the uniqueness and diversity that is Hawaii.”

CASE is a professional association serving educational institutions and the advancement professionals who work on their behalf in alumni relations, communications, development, marketing and allied areas.

District VII represents colleges and universities in Arizona, California, Guam, Hawaii, Nevada and Utah.

— Find out more:
www.uhfoundation.org
www.UHalumni.org