Two College of Charleston publications rank among the best in the nation, according to the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE). College of Charleston Magazine and the CougarNation booklet both won CASE Circle of Excellence Gold awards, signifying they are the best in the nation in their respective categories.

Summer.CofCfall.cofcCollege of Charleston Magazine was also a finalist for CASE’s Robert Sibley Magazine of the Year. Of the four finalists for college magazine of the year, CofC Magazine represented the only public-supported university. Magazine staff include Mark Berry, editor; Alfred Hall, art director; Alicia Lutz, managing editor; Jason Ryan, associate editor; and Leslie McKellar, photographer.

“It’s a great honor to be recognized by our peers for our work,” says Mark Berry, editor of the magazine and senior director of college publications. “Our magazine staff is very talented in the way they share the College of Charleston story, and we’ve been very fortunate to work with so many top-notch writers, photographers and illustrators, both here in Charleston and across the country. But our greatest strength, by far, is our subjects – the College’s amazing students, faculty and alumni. They are the ones that truly make the magazine stand out.”

CofC Magazine also received a 2013 CASE III Award of Excellence as well as two feature writing awards for Berry’s summer 2012 cover story on alumnus Justin Jay ’08, who is championing the cause of the endangered drill monkeys of Africa’s Equatorial Guinea.

cofc_cougarnationStaff in the Office of College Marketing earned a CASE Circle of Excellence gold award in the marketing category for Student Recruitment Publications, Individual Publications (print) for their CougarNation booklet, which is mailed to students after they have been accepted to the College of Charleston.

“There were 40 publications from across the country entered in this category, so we were thrilled to be selected as the most impressive,” says Marcia White, senior director of college marketing. “The judges’ comments probably did the best job of summing up what the CougarNation booklet is all about: ‘The brilliant lifestyle piece exudes attitude, feels inclusive, and is entertaining at every page turn. Blending college facts with regional tips and tidbits (Guilty Pleasure? Pork Rinds!), this piece was an audacious risk that paid off. Chucktown or bust!'”

The publications that the College Marketing team produces for College of Charleston recruitment efforts have long been recognized by industry peers for their creativity and distinctiveness. In addition to the CASE Circle of Excellence gold award, the CougarNation booklet received two International Davey Awards (rewarding big ideas from small firms) – for editorial, and art direction/graphic design, two Communicator Awards (honoring excellence in marketing and communications) for recruitment and overall design, and a PICA (Printing Industry of the Carolinas) Award of Excellence.

Staff who worked on the CougarNation booklet include White, Dan Dickison, director of college marketing, and Kris Adams, art director.

See more publications from the Division of Marketing and Communication.