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News Release

Last modified: Thursday, October 18, 2007

Two IU Alumni Association programs earn accolades

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Oct. 18, 2007

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- For the third consecutive year, the Indiana University Alumni Association has received awards for its alumni-relations program from its professional organization, the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education (CASE), Region V. The IUAA earned silver medals for two programs in the annual Pride of CASE V Awards Program.

The IUAA's 2007 Graduate Video, "Benny," was recognized in the "Best Video/DVD/CD-ROM for the Fundraising, Alumni Relations, or Commercial Spots" category. IUPUI's Top 100 Outstanding Student Recognition Program was honored for Best Student Alumni Programming.

"Benny," named for the character in the video, was conceived when two IUAA staff members, Joan Hall and Rachael Jones Crouch, BS'02, teamed up with students in IU Bloomington's senior-level telecommunications class T461, "Advanced Interactive Transmedia Design."

The students created a multimedia presentation for the IUAA's 2007 Graduate Web page. Twelve students in the class submitted project ideas. From those, the alumni association chose "Benny," by Joe Reinisch, BA'07, project leader, and Bill Boese, Max Crawford, BA'07, and Stephanie Zuroff, BA'07.

"Benny" is designed to generate new-graduate interest in the IUAA and its programs, including the complimentary one-year membership available to first-time graduates. In just three months, the video had nearly 12,000 page views, and a group on Facebook.com was created by students not affiliated with the IUAA to celebrate "Benny."

"I am very happy for the IU telecommunications students who worked so hard on this project," said Joan Hall, IUAA director of membership. "They did an outstanding job."

To view the award-winning video, go to https://www.alumni.indiana.edu/membership/grads/message2007.shtml.

The IUPUI Top 100 Outstanding Student Recognition Program began in 2000. The event is co-sponsored by the IUPUI Alumni Council and the Student Organization for Alumni Relations (SOAR).

Juniors and seniors on the Indianapolis campus who hold a minimum 3.0 GPA can be nominated by IUPUI students, faculty and staff for the Top 100 program. A committee of faculty, staff and alumni review the nominations and rate the candidates. The top 20 male and top 20 female scores are again reviewed by the committee to determine the Top 10 male and female and outstanding male and female rankings.

The Top 100 are honored at a recognition dinner each spring. Keynote speakers have included Indianapolis Chief of Police Jerry L. Barker, BS'78, former Indiana Secretary of State Sue Ann Gilroy, MPA'79, and Indiana Economic Development Corp. Director of International Development Steve Akard, BA'86, JD/MBA'89.

Kimberly Helton, director of alumni programs at the IUPUI Office of Alumni Relations and coordinator of the Top 100 program, says she is "delighted that the IUPUI Top 100 Students program is being recognized by CASE V. Over the years, this program has been embraced by our campus, and it is only successful because of the enthusiasm and support of IUPUI faculty, staff, alumni and students."

For more information about the award-winning Top 100 Outstanding Student Recognition Program, visit https://alumni.iupui.edu/top100.html.

For more information about CASE (Council for the Advancement and Support of Education) District V and the Pride of CASE V Awards Program, visit https://www.casefive.org.

The IU Alumni Association is dedicated to serving the university and its diverse alumni, students and friends. As one of the nation's largest alumni organizations, serving more than 500,000 graduates worldwide, the IUAA provides many programs and services to its members, non-member alumni, and the university. For information, visit https://www.alumni.indiana.edu or call 800-824-3044.

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