University Communications wins platinum, gold, silver
Business, creative industry recognize brand, social media campaigns

Using humor to break through the noise of traditional higher education marketing campaigns continues to net Central Michigan University’s University “We Do” brand campaign awards, this time in national competitions.
CMU’s brand campaign won two platinum 2024 Hermes Creative Awards and two Silver Stevie Awards from The American Business Awards. One of the Stevie judges cited the campaign’s creative way of reaching its target audience.
“I love everything about this,” the judge wrote. “Breaking through the noise using knowledge of your audience, focusing on humor for what can be a typically-serious topic, it all worked so well together and got great results. Nice job!”
The Silver Stevie Awards were in the Branded Content Campaign of the Year and Marketing Disruptor of the Year categories. CMU was the only university to win a Silver Stevie through all categories of the marketing awards, and tied for the award with State Farm, DHL and Deloitte. US Cellular and Adobe took home gold in both categories.
“We’re proud of all the awards, but the Stevie Awards are next level,” said Abby Dean, executive director of integrated marketing. “To be recognized in the same categories, at the same levels is really affirming of the work we’re producing. It speaks to the caliber of this team.”
The Hermes platinum awards were in the digital marketing campaign and integrated marketing campaign categories.
University Communication’s application fee waiver campaign won gold in the 2024 Hermes Creative Award social media campaign category.
“It’s very humbling to lead a team like this,” Dean said. “Individually, each member owns their expertise and brings it to bear on the execution of our work. As a team, they trust, challenge, strive and rely on each other to produce work judged equal to national and global brands like State Farm and Adobe. To help lead this team – particularly for my alma mater – is a true honor.
CMU was the only university to win a Stevie Award and the only university to win platinum in the Hermes “Digital Marketing Campaign.” It was one of only two universities worldwide to win a Hermes in the Integrated Marketing Campaign category
The latest accolades for University Communications are in addition to those earned earlier this spring, with the awards total now sitting at 16 for the two campaigns - plus a regional Emmy Award nomination. They include:
- 2024 Michigan Regional Emmy Award nomination (Commercial)
- 2024 AVA Digital Awards, Platinum Winner (Integrated Marketing Campaign)
- 2024 AVA Digital Awards, Platinum Winner (Social Campaign)
- 2024 Hermes Creative Awards, Platinum Winner (Digital Marketing Campaign)
- 2024 Hermes Creative Awards, Platinum Winner (Integrated Marketing Campaign)
- 2024 Hermes Creative Awards, Gold Winner (Social Media Campaign)
- 2024 dotCom Awards, Platinum Winner (Digital Marketing Campaign)
- 2024 dotCom Awards, Platinum Winner (Brand Awareness Campaign)
- 2024 dotCom Awards, Platinum Winner (Social Media Campaign)
- 2024 MarCom Awards, Gold Winner (Advertising Campaign)
- 2024 Viddy Awards, Gold Winner (Integrated Marketing Campaign)
- 2024 Viddy Awards, Honorable Mention (Social Media)
- 2024 Communicator Awards, Award of Distinction - Gold (Branding for Integrated & Multi-Channel Campaigns)
- 2024 Communicator Awards, Award of Excellence - Platinum (Social Media Marketing Effectiveness)
- 2024 Stevie Awards - The American Business Awards, Silver Stevie Winner (Branded Content Campaign of the Year)
- 2024 Stevie Awards – The American Business Awards, Silver Stevie Winner (Marketing Disruptor of the Year)
- 2024 Telly Awards – Bronze Winner (Branded Campaign)