Pam Russell
director of communications
CASE
+1-202-478-5680
russell@case.org

For Immediate Release
June 8, 2012

CASE Announces 2012 Circle of Excellence Award Winners

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The Council for Advancement and Support of Education has announced the 2012 winners of its prestigious Circle of Excellence awards honoring outstanding work in advancement services, alumni relations, communications, fundraising and marketing.

The international competition received more than 2,800 entries for consideration in 40 categories. Nearly 570 member higher education institutions, independent schools and nonprofits from 14 countries, including Canada, Hungary, Japan, New Zealand and South Africa, participated in this year's awards program.

Peer professionals at schools, colleges and universities as well as professionals outside of education judged the entries and awarded 275 bronze, silver and gold awards. Nineteen institutions received the top prize of a grand gold award.

The complete list of 2012 award winners in all categories is now available on the CASE website.

There were so many strong entries in this year's Circle of Excellence Awards that our judges really had a tough task selecting the best of the best," says Brian Flahaven, director of legislative, foundation and recognition programs. "We were particularly pleased at the increased number of international entries, which grew from 43 in 2011 to 112 this year."

Made up of several of CASE's long-time recognition programs, the Circle of Excellence awards program, in its present configuration, was introduced in 1994. Each year, it has grown in prestige and is now one of CASE's most popular and respected awards programs.

The Council for Advancement and Support of Education is one of the largest international associations of education institutions, serving more than 3,400 universities, colleges, schools and related organizations in 74 countries. CASE is the leading resource for professional development, information and standards in the fields of education fundraising, communications, marketing and alumni relations.

About CASE

The Council for Advancement and Support of Education is a professional association serving educational institutions and the advancement professionals who work on their behalf in alumni relations, communications, development, marketing and allied areas.

CASE was founded in 1974 and maintains headquarters in Washington, D.C., with offices in London (CASE Europe, 1994), Singapore (CASE Asia-Pacific, 2007) and Mexico City (CASE América Latina, 2011).

Today, CASE’s membership includes more than 3,600 colleges and universities, primary and secondary independent and international schools, and nonprofit organizations in 76 countries around the globe. This makes CASE one of the world’s largest nonprofit educational associations in terms of institutional membership. CASE serves more than 70,000 advancement professionals on the staffs of its member institutions and has more than 17,000 professional members on its roster.

To fulfill their missions and to meet both individual and societal needs, colleges, universities and independent schools rely on—and therefore must foster—the good will, active involvement, informed advocacy and enduring support of alumni, donors, prospective students, parents, government officials, community leaders, corporate executives, foundation officers and other external constituencies.

CASE helps its members build stronger relationships with all of these constituencies by providing relevant research, supporting growth in the profession and fostering support of education. CASE also offers a variety of advancement products and services, provides standards and an ethical framework for the profession and works with other organizations to respond to public issues of concern while promoting the importance of education worldwide.

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