University of the Pacific won three international communications awards, recognizing the innovative and compelling work of the digital Pacific Magazine and the design of a special faculty-led book celebrating the university’s 100^th year in Stockton.

Two of the Circle of Excellence Awards from the Council for Advancement and Support of Education were gold awards. Only nine universities across the nation had more gold designations – all much larger institutions such as University of Michigan, Miami University, University of Maryland and Brown University.

The two gold awards were for projects commemorating the university’s centennial year in the Central Valley led by Professor of History Ken Albala and University Curator Lisa Cooperman and an accompanying interactive timeline.

The book’s cover illustration, designed by Associate Professor Marie Lee, chair of the Department of Art, paired with the design details from Creative Director Nico Barredo, impressed CASE Awards judges with its expert use of color and insightful attention to detail. Lee’s illustration captures the essence of strolling through campus and Barredo’s graphic design details were applauded by the judges, who stated: “The use of color is extraordinary—the bold cover invokes the 1920s period as intended, but then to carry it through to the interior pages with a border is so exactly right. It is clear that much research was done to achieve a modern version of this 1920s-inspired book.”

“The design for the book was a love letter to Pacific’s Stockton campus,” said Nico Barredo, creative director of both winning projects. “I drew inspiration from its ornate architecture, the bold lines of Burns Tower and the university seal that graces the grounds. I applied this same design perspective when creating the look and feel of the timeline feature in Pacific Magazine.”

The timeline, called “Bold from the Start,” highlights Pacific’s rich history in Stockton. From the completion of Burns Tower in 1964 to the introduction of the World Wide Web in 1995, readers can trace the university’s lasting impact on the Central Valley.

Students and alumni are encouraged to become part of this living history by adding themselves to the timeline—securing their place in Pacific’s legacy with a personalized entry that can be shared on social media.

Pacific’s online iteration of Pacific Magazine was also recognized, earning bronze in the Magazines, Online Category for “Pacific Magazine Interactive.”

CASE Awards judges commended the work, saying: “Pacific Magazine Interactive is innovative, makes the most of the online format, and provides an impressive experience on mobile devices. It is fun, interactive, and we were really impressed that it was produced entirely in-house at University of the Pacific.” 

The experience allows users to immerse themselves into Pacific Magazine stories through content curated by Pacific’s Office of Strategic Communications, including photos, archival documents, videos and audio elements.

Pacific Magazine Interactive is a unique experience unlike anything the office has created before, says Ryan Walters, senior director of digital communications.

“With this new online magazine format, we take our readers deeper into the narrative and invite them to interact with the stories directly,” Walters said. “Rather than simply reproduce magazine stories online, we offer our readers novel ways to go beyond the page through digital-first features and rich media. It’s been wonderful to see the positive response from the community and from the judges at CASE.”

Pacific Magazine Interactive showcases the hands-on learning experiences available to physics and astronomy students in its “Space to Explore” feature. Students have the opportunity to collaborate on research with their professors—members of national and international teams driving groundbreaking discoveries in galaxy formation and evolution. Through the interactive online platform, users can dive into these findings firsthand.

This is the third consecutive year Pacific has won CASE awards – six in all – after winning one over the previous decade. CASE, which honors the best in communications, marketing, development and fundraising campaigns from colleges around the world, received nominations from more than 600 schools in more than 30 countries this year.

“Pacific Magazine, especially the interactive portion, serves as a meaningful bridge to our vibrant community of Tigers,” said Chief Communication Officer Sallie Poggi. “Our team constantly pushes ourselves to create new and meaningful ways to connect with our community through storytelling and reach new audiences.  It’s exciting to see our team’s dedication and excellence acknowledged with gold by the judges at CASE.”