STAUFFER's Work with USC Annenberg Wins CASE Circle of Excellence Silver Award

Recognition from your peers carries extra weight. That's why I’m proud to share that our work with the USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism has earned a CASE Circle of Excellence Silver Award.

The award recognizes Starting at Point A, an admitted student experience at USC Annenber. Designed during the COVID-19 pandemic, the campaign helped prospective students explore the school, experience its culture, and envision themselves as part of the USC Annenberg community when in-person visits were limited.

Acceptance into USC Annenberg is a significant achievement. The next challenge is helping admitted students decide where they want to spend the next several years of their lives. USC Annenberg's communications and marketing team saw an opportunity to create an experience that would answer questions, build excitement, and strengthen that connection from the moment students received their acceptance.

Working closely with USC Annenberg, our team brought the school's illustration-driven creative vision to life through a custom digital experience. Students were introduced to the microsite through a printed mailer before exploring virtual tours, event videos, student work, and other content that showcased both the academic experience and campus community. Clear calls to action throughout the site encouraged students to take the next step toward enrollment.

The project earned a Silver Award in CASE's Circle of Excellence program, one of the most respected recognition programs in higher education marketing, communications, and advancement.

Explore the Award-Winning Experience

• Undergraduate experience: https://annenberg.usc.edu/enroll/admitted_undergrad
• Graduate experience: https://annenberg.usc.edu/enroll/admitted-grad
• CASE award profile: https://www.case.org/awards/circle-excellence/2022/starting-point

From the Judges

"This site is a great example of a school understanding its market: prospective students and parents. Not only is it welcoming and vibrant, but it is professional with consistent branding and clear calls to action. The virtual tour was outstanding!"

About the CASE Circle of Excellence Awards

The Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) is a global nonprofit organization serving professionals in educational advancement. Its Circle of Excellence Awards recognize outstanding achievement in communications, marketing, alumni relations, fundraising, and enrollment initiatives across colleges, universities, and independent schools worldwide.

In 2022, CASE received more than 4,500 entries from 636 institutions across nearly 30 countries. Awards were judged on overall quality, innovation, effective use of resources, and impact on the institution and its communities.

We're honored to have partnered with USC Annenberg on a project that demonstrates how thoughtful strategy, compelling creative, and engaging digital experiences can help institutions connect with future students.