ACU receives national communication award For immediate release February 23, 1999 Abilene Christian University has been awarded a Crystal Award of Excellence from The Communicator Awards, 1998, a national competition honoring excellence in visual communications, for the "To Lead and To Serve" campaign film. The Communicator Awards is a national competition founded by communications professionals to recognize individuals and companies in the communications field whose talent and creativity achieves a high standard of excellence and serves as a standard for the industry. The ACU team responsible for the video includes Dr. Doug Conder, executive assistant to the vice president of development; Ron Hadfield, director of creative services; Michelle Morris, director of marketing and public relations; Dr. Larry Bradshaw, director of ACU's electronic media program; and Dr. John Tyson, vice president of development. "The national recognition of this film from another professional organization is very gratifying," Hadfield said. "Of course, the most important result is the effect the product has upon the success of the most important campaign in ACU's history." The video was introduced about one year ago. The "To Lead and To Serve" campaign is in its third year, and ACU is closing in on $78 million, nearing its $100 million goal. "This video has played a significant role in the campaign along with student recruiting, image building and employee orientation," Tyson said. "Plus, this honor signifies that the talent of ACU employees and the work they produce is competitive on the national level." The Communicator Awards holds annual competition for video, audio and print media. Entries are judged against a high standard of excellence rather than against competitors' budgets' and size. Winners are given either Award of Excellence, Award of Distinction, or Honorable Mention. The Crystal Award of Excellence is given to those entries whose ability to communicate puts them among the best in the field. The Crystal Award of Distinction is presented for projects that exceed industry standards in quality and excellence. Entries must have been produced in 1997 or 1998, and only those works that have not aired nationally on a major broadcast network are eligible. The "To Lead and To Serve" video was produced by Phillips Productions, Inc. Two major fund-raising campaign film projects from Phillips Productions Inc. of Dallas won regional awards last spring from the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) and were national finalists receiving prestigious Telly Awards -- ACU's and one for Southern Methodist University. Of them, only ACU's won recognition from The Communicator Awards. -30- If you are a member of the media who would like more information about this release, please contact Tom Craig, director of media and community relations, at craigt@nicanor.acu.edu or call 915-674-2692. Last update: March 22, 1999 This page is maintained by Tom Craig, craigt@nicanor.acu.edu. http://www.acu.edu/people/news/990223-tltsvideo.html