UNO, Alumni Association Earn 12 Regional Awards

OMAHA - It was another gold rush for the University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) at the annual CASE VI Institutional Awards Program.

For the second consecutive year, UNO Alumni Association programs, events and communications received six gold awards and 11 overall in the program recognizing the best work of advancement professionals in CASE — the Council for Advancement and Support of Education. University Communications also received a gold award for its work producing the UNO Advantage Book.

CASE VI, one of eight districts, is comprised of nearly 200 institutions from eight Midwest states. The awards were conferred Jan. 12 at the annual CASE VI Conference in Denver. More than 442 entries were submitted to the peer-judged program. The six gold awards match the most the association has received in a single year. Since 2010, it has received 38 CASE awards.

“Our staff has established a standard of excellence that our peers are recognizing as consistently being among the best work in our industry,” said Alumni Association President Lee Denker. “Their efforts keep our worldwide alumni network connected to and engaged with our great university in innovative and distinctive ways. I’m proud to see them recognized for such exemplary work.”

Again this year, CASE VI professionals judged the UNO Young Alumni Academy a top program for a third straight year. It received three gold awards, including one in the new CASE Platinum category. Each district selects up to two platinum entries. Those selected advance to a second round of judging with platinum entries from all eight CASE districts. Winners in that round will be recognized in the CASE Circle of Excellence awards program this spring. Since 2012 the academy has received 12 CASE awards, including the association’s first silver award in the International Circle of Excellence program judging entries from more than 3,400 institutions in 74 countries.

Following is a list of the 2014 CASE awards UNO received:


Alumni Relations Programs

Gold Platinum — UNO Young Alumni Academy

Gold Student Alumni Initiatives — Degree Discovery Day

Gold Volunteer Engagement and Leadership — UNO Young Alumni Academy

Gold Programming for Special Constituencies — UNO Young Alumni Academy

Silver Marketing and Branding — UNO Senior Send-Off

New Program Initiatives — UNO Degree Discovery Day

Bronze Programming for Special Constituencies — Mavs on the Move in Arizona

Communications & Marketing, Excellence In Design

Gold Special Issues — UNO Magazine, Spring 2014

Gold Design, Illustrations — UNO Magazine, Spring 2014

Silver General Interest Magazines, UNO Magazine

Bronze Design, Covers — UNO Magazine, Summer 2014

Institutional Publications

Gold President’s Reports and Annual Reports — UNO Advantage Book


The UNO Young Alumni Academy, created and managed by Programs Director Elizabeth Kraemer, facilitates networking and professional growth for alumni 35 and younger. Meetings are held at unique locations on and off campus, and UNO leaders address members on topics such as athletics management and community engagement. More than 130 young alumni have participated in the academy in its five years.

UNO Golden Circle is comprised of alumni, retired faculty and staff 65 and older. The group meets monthly for luncheons featuring campus speakers. UNO Mavs on the Move in Arizona was a reception for UNO alumni and friends held February 2014 at the Mesa Arts Center. At Degree Discovery Day, the association brought successful alumni in various career fields to speak with UNO students about their work. At Senior Send-Off, the association greeted graduating seniors with a free UNO Alumni Card and gave them the opportunity to pose for photos in front of a UNO banner.

The Spring 2014 issue of UNO Magazine focused on race and ethnicity. Titled “About Face: Changes in how we look. Changes in how we think,” it featured an illustration by Edel Rodriguez depicting individuals featured in the issue. The Summer 2014 cover illustration by Tom Nick Cocotos depicted that issue’s theme of transportation, “Planes, Trains & Automobiles: The different ways we get to where we’re going.” UNO Magazine also was honored for its overall excellence, receiving a silver award for general interest magazines. Director of Communications Anthony Flott is the magazine’s managing editor and Emspace Group of Omaha designs it, led by Heidi Mihelich. The magazine is published as a cooperative effort of UNO, the Alumni Association and the University of Nebraska Foundation.

Kraemer, who in 2013 received the first-ever CASE VI Rising Star Award honoring a CASE professional of less than seven years, is a member of the CASE VI Conference Committee as arrangements chair. Alumni President Lee Denker is on the CASE VI Board of Directors as district secretary.

About the University of Nebraska at Omaha

Located in one of America’s best cities to live, work and learn, the University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) is Nebraska’s premier metropolitan university. With more than 15,000 students enrolled in 200-plus programs of study, UNO is recognized nationally for its online education, graduate education, military friendliness and community engagement efforts. Founded in 1908, UNO has served learners of all backgrounds for more than 100 years and is dedicated to another century of excellence both in the classroom and in the community.

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