Utah State UMAC Wins Multiple CASE Excellence Awards

Utah State University Marketing and Communications (UMAC) received multiple awards in the 2026 Circle of Excellence – Region VII CASE awards. These awards reflect the collaboration and creativity that define our team, said Bill Plate, vice president of University Marketing and Communications.

Utah State Magazine Recognized for Excellence

Utah State Magazine was honored with four Circle of Excellence awards, showcasing its expertise in writing, design, and photography. The magazine’s 2024 issues were recognized as the culmination of a multi-year redesign effort aimed at making the publication more engaging for younger alumni while retaining the interest of older alumni. The judges praised the magazine’s fun, bright, and dynamic visuals and its editorial content, which captures the essence of the university’s community. The redesign also increased publication from two to three issues per year while maintaining the same page count and budget, and it led to the reintroduction of digital editions.

Level Up Campaign Wins Communications Award

The entire UMAC marketing team was recognized for its Level Up recruitment campaign, which won the Communications Initiatives category. The campaign was designed as an innovative digital marketing experience to engage Generation Alpha through a playful, gamified aesthetic inspired by retro video games. The visual theme was crafted to resonate with Gen Alpha’s fascination with pixel art and vintage gaming culture while also appealing to millennial parents through nostalgia.

provide a creative nod to retro video game aesthetics

CASE Regional Awards

The awards were presented by the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE), a global nonprofit association dedicated to educational advancement. The Circle of Excellence – Region VII competition includes universities from Arizona, California, Hawaii, Nevada, and Utah.