From the Nominator

Bryn Mawr’s admissions magazine, Bloom, is written and designed for our applicant audience—girls aged five to 14. Responding to admissions data showing that students have significant decision-making power when it comes to selecting a new school, Bloom is one way we ensure that applicants are getting as excited about Bryn Mawr as their parents are. The publication title “stems” from the school's emblematic daisy, symbolizing growth and personal development. With a young audience in mind, Bloom aims to connect with prospective students by providing fun and cheerful content, including an advice column, hands-on activities, a day-in-the-life feature story, a regular “What’s in Your Backpack” photo spread, as well as lists, student polls, photo essays, and more. The goal is to show young girls—whether they are athletes, artists, poets, scholars, or all of the above—that there are many ways to experience and be successful at The Bryn Mawr School. Bloom is published twice annually, strategically timed with the admissions cycle, and distributed to prospective and current students, faculty, and admissions feeder schools. The magazine is a positive, welcoming, and energetic publication—"Girl power on steroids!” as one current parent put it—that has been well-received by both internal and external audiences. Simply put, it has fueled the positive word-of-mouth buzz about Bryn Mawr among applicants and current families.

From the Judges

We agreed that this is a highly engaging concept and that showed perfect execution. Bloom receives top marks for engagement by providing creative, energetic, and cheerful content for a young audience, featuring a diversity of perspectives and experience. Additionally, it offers lots of fun and this-is-what-it's-like-here content that feels personal and honest.