Communications & Marketing Projects, Staff Recognized for Creativity

Wednesday, December 13, 2017
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The #RoseHulmanGetsMe award-winning social media campaign encouraged admitted students to post a selfie wearing a pair of punch-out black “nerd” glasses, complete with tape on the nosepiece

CASE Awards
CASE Awards
CASE Awards
CASE Awards
CASE Awards
CASE Awards
CASE Awards
CASE Awards
CASE Awards
CASE Awards
Communications and Marketing photographer Bryan Cantwell's photos from his award-winning album.

The Office of Communications & Marketing has been recognized regionally for excellence in several areas.

The Council for the Advancement and Support of Education’s Pride of CASE V Awards Program presented a first-place honor to the #RoseHulmanGetsMe social media campaign; second place to the quality of work created by staff photographer Bryan Cantwell; and third place to Rose-Hulman’s Echoes alumni magazine.

The social media campaign, developed in 2015 and still going strong, is directed at students who are admitted to the university to study engineering, science, computer science, or math—areas historically considered nerdy. The students’ official acceptance packet includes a pair of punch-out black “nerd” glasses, complete with tape on the nosepiece. Recipients are encouraged to take a selfie wearing the glasses and post their photo to social media with the tagline #rosehulmangetsme. Creative Director Traci Nelson-Albertson designed the glasses and Shaun Hussey, social media and email marketing manager, executed the campaign.

“Students who come to Rose-Hulman embrace their nerdy interests,” says Mary Atteberry, vice president for communications and marketing. “We get that about them, and wanted a way to show them that they will flourish among other students who share their quirky hobbies and passion for science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). We developed the campaign in conjunction with the admissions office, understanding that students here are proud of their nerdy side and willing to proclaim it. The positive response has been very gratifying.”

Although students accepted for admission to Rose-Hulman and prospective applicants were the primary target audiences for the #RoseHulmanGetsMe campaign, alumni also became engaged by congratulating accepted students and sharing the social media posts. Rose-Hulman has been able to extend its national visibility with the accepted students organically sharing that news.

In the CASE V photography category, Cantwell was recognized for a collection of 10 photographs in the album “Collaboration, Innovation and Celebration: Life at Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology.” These images, reflecting many of the institute’s distinctive attributes, were featured on the college’s website, Echoes alumni magazine and other publications produced by the institute.

Echoes is produced three times annually to keep alumni and friends informed about the activities of Rose-Hulman graduates, students and faculty.  Overhauled in 2015 to focus on impact and relevance for readers, the jazzed-up magazine reflects the institute’s role as an innovative national leader in undergraduate STEM higher education, while helping deepen the special relationship between Rose-Hulman and its alumni. Dale Long is the executive editor, and Nelson-Albertson provides creative and design direction, working closely with Indianapolis graphic designer Chris Denison.

“These CASE awards affirm the talent and creativity of Rose-Hulman’s communications and marketing staff,” Atteberry says. “Our work is a team effort involving a high level of collaboration with other areas on campus, and a great deal of support from our administration. Rose-Hulman is acknowledged as the nation’s top undergraduate engineering college, and we are proud to bring additional external recognition to the institute.”

The CASE awards were presented Dec. 11 in Chicago during an annual conference of professionals in marketing, communications, fundraising, alumni relations and government relations at colleges in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio and Wisconsin.