Northern Vermont Earns Gold Award for 2021 Virtual Graduation Experience

Northern Vermont University (NVU) is excited to announce it was awarded Gold in the CASE Circle of Excellence Awards in the Special Events, Online Commencements category for its two 2021 virtual commencement events.

With COVID-19 again disrupting in-person graduations, Northern Vermont University staff built upon the virtual celebration created for 2020 and scaled it to a full virtual commencement for each campus. The goal: To create an experience that was much grander than speakers at a podium and would convey warmth and excitement while also being highly personalized.

From the CASE judges: “The microsite, personal messages, video, and graduate slides were all wonderful. This is a leading example of making the most out of a challenging situation and giving it an A+ effort that paid off for their graduates and families. This was well-thought out and planned, and it shows. I felt like I was a part of this community just watching and browsing the supplemental information.”

CASE’s website notes that the “CASE Circle of Excellence Awards celebrate the creative, resourceful, and innovative ways advancement professionals around the globe champion their institutions’ success. These 2022 Circle of Excellence recipients—from institutions and teams of all sizes and shapes, from regions across the world—showcase how advancement empowers teaching and learning, ignites institutional progress, and helps communities thrive.”

As one NVU graduate shared: “My friends, family, and everyone I have spoken to were absolutely blown away by what was presented. The production quality exceeded everyone’s expectations. The attention to detail showed how much thought and effort was put into this experience.”

NVU’s Virtual Graduations 2021 were also recognized in the 37th Annual Educational Advertising Awards, earning Gold in the Special Event category.

The NVU Marketing and Communications team that created the virtual commencement event for each campus included Web and Digital Designer Brandon Heanssler, Marketing Design and Production Manager Eric Kirk, Staff Writer Cathy Donohue, Web and Digital Communications Manager Becca Munkelwitz, and Media and Marketing Coordinator Grace DiNapoli, led by Director of Marketing and Communications Sylvia Plumb.

“NVU’s Virtual Commencement 2021 was truly a labor of love,” said Sylvia Plumb, NVU Director of Marketing and Communications. “To receive this level of acknowledgement on an international stage is an honor for the entire team and the entire university.”