Awards

Awards are given by the Communicators Forum to members who apply each summer at our annual conference and represent the best of the University's communications and marketing projects.

All Recipients

Project Year Award Category Department Collaborators
2025 CBS commencement video Gold Video College of Biological Sciences Briana Galbraith, Christy Hazuka, Lance Janssen, Stephanie Xenos
2025 Finals Week Instagram Reel Gold, MARGO Digital College of Science & Engineering Lovetee Akin, David Blank, Robert McIntosh, Kalie Pluchel, Rhonda Zurn
AI chatbots shouldn’t replace your therapist release Gold Writing College of Science and Engineering Stevie Chancellor, Katie Pluchel, Rhonda Zurn
College of Liberal Arts viewbook Gold Design College of Liberal Arts & Office of Internal Audit Johanna Heidorn Krey, Laura Johnson, Kaleb Williams
CSE Grad Student Voices Video Series Gold Campaign, Series, or Event College of Science and Engineering Grant Dahl, Amber Luck Ronning, Katelyn Mayne, Pauline Oo, Kalie Pluchel, Martin Santiago Ojeda, Henry Stafford, Rhonda Zurn
Admissions Conference: Honeycrisp lip balm Maroon, MIKE Design Office of Admissions Melissa Martinson
Both sides of science Maroon Writing University of Minnesota Foundation Larissa Milles
Campus Curiosities: Soil Judging Team Maroon Video College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences Austin Rimer, Jeff Thompson
CFANS Connections Newsletter for Alumni, Partners and Community Maroon Writing College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences Mary Buschette, Lori Fligge, Elizabeth Kaestner
CFANS Student worker social media campaign Maroon Digital College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences Laura Dotson, Meredith Dwyer, Lori Fligge, Aimee Gillespie, Elizabeth Kaestner, Austin Rimer, Louisa Smith, Jeffrey Thompson
Full circle: A journey of care, connection, and community at CUHCC Maroon Writing Office of Academic Clinical Affairs Amy Leslie, Gao Vang
Gopher Guide Website Maroon Digital Orientation & Transition Experiences Charlot Meyer, Chad Sewich
Gopher It! CFANS at the 2025 Minnesota State Fair Maroon, UBRAND Campaign, Series, or Event College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences Aimee L. Gillespie, Meredith Dwyer, Lori Fligge, Elizabeth Kastner, Tim Loesch, Jeff Thompson, FableVision Studios
Impact of Giving - Digital Report Maroon Digital Minnesota Law Mark Byart, Riley Grittinger, Jeffrey Kasimor, Monica Wittstock
Medicare-Eligible Medical Plan Transition Maroon Campaign, Series, or Event Office of Human Resources Kelly Auxler, Shane Lueck
Minnesota Carlson Brand Website Maroon Digital Minnesota Carlson Jane Flis, Dan Gunderson, Betty Klein, Tim Luong, Molly Rhodes, Rose Semenov
Minnesota Paid Leave Maroon Campaign, Series, or Event Office of Human Resources Sara Danzinger, Shane Lueck
Prime Educational Habitat: UMD Bird Club at Sax-Zim Bog Maroon Video University of Minnesota Duluth University Marketing & Public Relations David Cowardin, Alex Messenger
Real college radio' is a real opportunity for students Maroon Writing University Marketing Communications Creative Services Susan Hagen, Eric Miller, Rick Moore, Adam Overland, Tamera Peake
Research for hearing protection Maroon Writing University of Minnesota Duluth University Marketing & Public Relations David Cowardin, Alex Messenger
School of Music Undergraduate and Graduate Handbooks Redesign Maroon Design School of Music Clancy Theade
Summer Camp in the Style of Wes Anderson Maroon Video Bell Museum Hugh Gabriel
The Fire Pit of Knowledge Maroon Video University of Minnesota Duluth University Marketing & Public Relations David Cowardin, Alex Messenger
The Return of the Maroon Loon: Reviving a Bulldog Hockey Legend Maroon Campaign, Series, or Event University of Minnesota Duluth Athletics & University Marketing & Public Relations Charlene Aaseng, Matt Clark, David Cowardin, Lizzy Farrell, Dylon Field, Kelly Grgas-Wheeler, Reece Hickman, Kate Jorgensen, Alex Messenger, Brian Nystrom, Lynne Williams
University of Minnesota State Fair Core Theme Maroon Design Creatives Services Design & University Marketing Communications Anna Abbott, Alex Dorner, Susan Hagen, Sarah Issa, Rick Moore, Ashley Piediscalzi, Karley Schoenberg, Kelly Voigt
Winter 2025-26 Inventing Tomorrow Magazine Maroon Design College of Science & Engineering Pauline Oo, Sara Specht, Rhonda Zurn
‘Listening for Blackness’: a new exhibit at the Givens Collection explores what it means to ‘sound Black’ Maroon Writing University of Minnesota Libraries Karen Carmody-McIntosh, Adria Carpenter
Admissions Conference: Honeycrisp lip balm Maroon, MIKE Design Office of Admissions Melissa Martinson
Gopher It! CFANS at the 2025 Minnesota State Fair Maroon, UBRAND Campaign, Series, or Event College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences Aimee L. Gillespie, Meredith Dwyer, Lori Fligge, Elizabeth Kastner, Tim Loesch, Jeff Thompson, FableVision Studios
2025 Finals Week Instagram Reel Gold, MARGO Digital College of Science & Engineering Lovetee Akin, David Blank, Robert McIntosh, Kalie Pluchel, Rhonda Zurn
2024 M Giving Newsletters Gold Design University of Minnesota Foundation Shawn Sullivan, Marcy Joseph
In full color Gold Writing University of Minnesota Foundation Justin Harris, Nicole Endres
Parking & Transportation Services Website Redesign Gold Digital Parking & Transportation Services Nick Mabee, Cansu Saydam, Lauren Anderson
Student Profile: Jenna Whiting Gold Video University Marketing & Public Relations David Cowardin
UMD Brand Launch/Logo Change Gold, UBRAND Campaign, Series, or Event University Marketing & Public Relations David Cowardin, Reece Hickman, Alex Messenger, Lynne Williams, Charlene Aaseng, Kate Jorgensen
2024 Graduation Speaker Instagram Reel Maroon Digital College of Science and Engineering Kalie Pluchel, Grant Dahl, Rhonda Zurn
2024 SCSE Holiday Card Maroon Design UMD Swenson College of Science & Engineering Valerie Coit, Wendy Reed, Stacie Renne, Janelle Turner-Miller
A Deep Dive on a Gar Fish - VR 360 Maroon Video CFANS Communications Jeff Thompson, Tim Loesch, Lori Fligge, Aimee Gillespie, Elizabeth Kaestner, Meredith Dwyer
A different perspective Maroon Writing University Marketing & Public Relations David Cowardin, Alex Messenger, Kate Jorgensen
Alley-oop Maroon Writing University of Minnesota Foundation Justin Harris, Nicole Endres
Black Men Teach (feature story) Maroon Writing CEHD Office of Communications and Marketing Kevin Moe, Kirsten Mortensen, Jairus Davis
Brain Food: Improving Health and Wellness Through 80 Years of Nutritional Research Maroon Writing School of Public Health Kathryn Silverstein, Jessica Scully, Virgil McDill, Rachel Smith, Martha Coventry, Skelton Sprouls, WRK
Dakota Language Social Media Maroon Digital College of Liberal Arts Office of Institutional Advancement Jane Vo
Finding their calling in Greater Minnesota (a story on the Rural Physician Associate Program) Maroon Writing University Marketing Communications – Creative Services Rick Moore, Zandra Phouisangiem, Eric Miller, Cheryl Zupec, Priya Bhamidipati, Dimitri Tadege, Alex Dorner, Susan Garcia Hagen
Goodnight UMD MARGO, Maroon, MIKE Video University Marketing & Public Relations David Cowardin, Alex Messenger, Reece Hickman
Introducing Dean William McGeveran Maroon Video Minnesota Law Monica Wittstock, Randy Barrett, Hunter Johnson
Libraries News on Instagram Maroon Campaign, Series, or Event University Libraries Adria Carpenter
mentalhealth@umn Campaign Maroon Campaign, Series, or Event University Marketing Communications Cheryl Zupec, Kelly Voigt, Pamela Hart, Rick Moore, Alex Dorner, Sarah Issa
Minnesota Law Magazine - Digital Edition Maroon Digital Minnesota Law Mark Byart, Riley Grittinger, Monica Wittstock
Pauline Boss presents: Ambiguous Loss Maroon Video CEHD Office of Communications and Marketing Jairus Davis, Ryan Warren, John Behr, Sarah Jergenson, Kirsten Mortensen, Julie Michener