UNDAAF Receives Three CASE Circle of Excellence Awards

The Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) has awarded the University of North Dakota Alumni Association & Foundation (UNDAAF) three Circle of Excellence Awards, which honor outstanding work in educational advancement from institutions around the world.  

The UNDAAF winning entries are: 

• Faces of Space: a Gold award in the category of Writing | News/Feature (Series or Collection)
• • A series of stories for the spring 2025 issue of the UND Alumni Magazine reflecting the depth of UND graduates working across the space industry, showcasing a range of alumni achievements to demonstrate UND’s impact in the field. 
• Through Grants Eyes: a Silver award in the category of Writing | Profile (Less Than 1,000 Words)
  • A memorial profile honoring the life of Grant Dosser—a young man from Bismarck who planned on transferring to the University of North Dakota for graphic design in 2018 but passed away the summer prior. The feature showcased the power and impact of memorial giving while helping a grieving family share and preserve their son’s legacy. 
• Notes From the Nest Student Registration Platform: a Silver award in the category of Advancement Services | Advancement Services Initiatives (More Than 25 Staff)
  • Notes from the Nest is a university wide, two-day thank-you note writing event hosted by the UNDAAF. The UNDAAF Operations team designed a streamlined, user-friendly check-in/check-out and tracking platform that ensures efficient student flow, accurate donor-to-student matching, and reliable data tracking throughout the event. Building this platform required close collaboration with the university’s student finance team and integration with the scholarship-acceptance system.

“These awards are a celebration of the people behind the work," said Sarah Prout, vice president of marketing and communications for the University of North Dakota Alumni Association & Foundation. "Every story we tell, every experience we create, and every project we launch is rooted in advancing the mission of UND and strengthening connections with our alumni, donors, and students. To be recognized by CASE alongside institutions from around the world is incredibly meaningful, and I'm grateful to work with a team that continues to push the boundaries of what's possible.”

CASE received more than 4,185 entries from 628 institutions in 33 countries. Peer judges selected 493 award recipients across 93 categories that represent the full breadth of advancement, including magazines and publications, fundraising campaigns, alumni initiatives, special events, marketing, leadership, video, and more. 

 

These awards are a celebration of the people behind the work.Sarah Prout, UNDAAF vice president of marketing and communications 

The Council for Advancement and Support of Education is a global nonprofit association dedicated to educational advancement—alumni relations, communications, development, marketing, and advancement services—and championing education to transform lives and society.

CASE’s membership includes more than 3,000 colleges, universities, and independent elementary and secondary schools in more than 80 countries, making CASE one of the largest nonprofit education associations in the world in terms of institutional membership.

The UND Alumni Association & Foundation has a membership of more than 140,000 living alumni and conducts a comprehensive program of alumni relations and fundraising throughout the nation. The nonprofit organization raises and manages funds that secure a strong future for the University of North Dakota and its students.