Alfred University marketing projects win four Educational Advertising Awards

ALFRED, NY—The 2021 Educational Advertising Awards were presented earlier this month and collaborations between Alfred University and two marketing and communication firms earned a total of four award citations.

Alfred University’s new logo/letterhead design and fall visit campaign projects with Creative Communication Associates (CCA) received Gold and Bronze awards, respectively. Two projects with Underscore—a parent postcard focusing on affordability, and an affordability search postcard—earned Bronze and Merit awards, respectively.  CCA and Underscore are marketing and communications firms serving the higher education industry.

The 2021 Educational Advertising Awards were announced March 1. Gold awards were granted to 313 institutions, silver awards were awarded to 170 institutions, and bronze awards were presented to 104 institutions.

Honored Alfred University collaborations with CCA:

Gold Award: Following a brand creative refresh, CCA worked with Alfred University to finalize its identity with a new institutional logo and brand standards guide. The logo includes a nod to a very familiar piece of the Alfred campus, the Steinheim castle, home to the University’s Robert McComsey Career Development Center.

Bronze Award: As Alfred's enrollment management partners, CCA also worked to plan and execute on a paid media and creative campaign to support the university's Fall events. This year the goal shifted to include virtual events, rather than the typical in person visits, due to COVID-19 regulations. 

Honored Alfred University collaborations with Underscore:

Merit Award: A search postcard was developed and sent to prospective students (high school seniors). It emphasized the value of earning a degree from Alfred University, and focused on educating students on the variety of financial aid offerings available to those who applied.

Bronze Award: A follow-up postcard also focused on affordability and was sent to parents of prospects who inquired. The goal of this piece was to highlight Alfred’s value, how the university prepares students for professional success, and the benefits of applying.

“CCA has been an incredibly strategic partner to Alfred University for over three years, in rebranding the institution, increasing awareness among prospective students and their parents, and in executing annual campaigns,” commented Michael Kozlowski, Alfred University executive director of Marketing and Communication. “Their team has been responsive, collaborative, and helpful in translating our ideas into effective vehicles for communicating Alfred’s excitement and value proposition.  With the recent addition of Underscore, we don’t believe there is a better team available for higher education marketing.”

“We are thrilled to be recognized for the second time for our work with CCA and for our new partnership with Underscore,” added Jodi Bailey, marketing director at Alfred University. “The launch of our new logo continues to strengthen our brand and marketing initiatives in a crowded marketplace. We are especially proud of our strategic partnership with our Division of Enrollment Management, and the collaboration with our two outstandingly creative marketing partners paving the way for our powerful and successful marketing campaigns.”

The Educational Advertising Awards are the largest, oldest and most respected educational advertising awards competition in the country. This year, the Educational Advertising Awards received more than 2,000 entries from approximately 1,000 colleges, universities, and secondary schools from all 50 states and several countries. This marks the 36th year the Educational Advertising Awards have honored excellence in the fields of educational advertising and marketing.