'Exceptional Achievement'
Ohio Wesleyan Earns International Awards for Engagement and Communications Excellence
DELAWARE, Ohio – Ohio Wesleyan University has earned international recognition for "exceptional achievement" in public storytelling, message impact, and constituent engagement – winning three 2025 CASE Circle of Excellence Awards.
Presented by the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE), the global competition drew more than 4,400 entries from 33 countries, spotlighting the world's most innovative and effective strategies among educational institutions.
"These awards affirm what we already know about our brilliant faculty and staff, and our committed alumni and friends," President Matt vandenBerg said. "OWU isn't merely building momentum – we're rewriting the playbook for how institutions galvanize communities, tell their stories, and lead with joy. This wonderful recognition demonstrates what's possible when talented, mission-driven people collaborate with boldness, kindness, and innovation."
Ohio Wesleyan's award-winning entries in the 2025 CASE Circle of Excellence competition are:
- Community, Creativity, Collaboration, and Celebration: A Presidential Inauguration Transforms a Campus. Ohio Wesleyan earned a Special Events Bronze Award for its weeklong celebration to inaugurate vandenBerg as OWU's 17th president. The event was paired with several groundbreaking announcements, including new scholarship opportunities and collaborations with Columbus State Community College and South Carolina's Claflin University. According to the CASE judges: "This entry showcases an excellent model for reimagining traditional university inaugurations. The entire week's programming highlighted unique opportunities to engage with the campus community and celebrate new initiatives instead of just the new president. The collaboration across campus and the focus on inclusivity are particularly noteworthy."
- Dr. v's Trivia Taxi. Ohio Wesleyan received a Video/Holiday/Year-end Silver Award for this creative take on TV's "Cash Cab" game show. President vandenBerg drove the vehicle and asked the OWU trivia questions in a fun video that represents one of the university's most successful social media campaigns ever. According to the Circle of Excellence judges: "We enjoyed this video's creative concept and charismatic president. The trivia idea is one that other organizations can build upon and make their own, perhaps by using trivia to recap the year's highlights."
- The Alumni/Parent Admission Recruitment Team (A/PART) program. OWU earned a Silver Award in Alumni Relations Initiatives for its innovative A/PART initiative. The offices of Alumni & Family Engagement and Enrollment collaborate in A/PART to identify and engage prospective students, transforming the traditional admission process. According to the judges: "Great effort, and a creative engagement opportunity for volunteers. Good outcomes so far, and the program has the potential to grow in years to come."
In informing Ohio Wesleyan of its three 2025 Circle of Excellence Awards, CASE officials said, "This is no small feat, and you should be proud of this accomplishment and eager to share it with the world. We certainly will!"
The Council for Advancement and Support of Education is a global association of 97,000 professionals in advancement (alumni relations, communications, development, fundraising, marketing, and advancement services) at more than 3,100 institutions in 80 countries that champion education to transform lives and society. "As a catalyst for advancing education worldwide, we inspire, challenge, and equip communities of professionals to act effectively and with integrity to champion the success of their institutions," CASE states. Learn more at www.case.org.
Founded in 1842, Ohio Wesleyan University is one of the nation's premier liberal arts universities. Located in Delaware, Ohio, the private university offers more than 70 undergraduate majors and competes in 24 NCAA Division III varsity sports. Through its signature experience, the OWU Connection, Ohio Wesleyan teaches students to understand issues from multiple academic perspectives, volunteer in service to others, build a diverse and global perspective, and translate classroom knowledge into real-world experience through internships, research, and other hands-on learning. Ohio Wesleyan is featured in the book "Colleges That Change Lives" and included on the U.S. News & World Report and Princeton Review "Best Colleges" lists. Connect with OWU expert interview sources at owu.edu/experts or learn more at owu.edu.