To celebrate their grand-gold win, the UMSL Magazine staff – made up of writers, designers, a photographer, an editor, a logistics coordinator and two administrators – poses on their grand-gold couch holding the fall 2016 and spring 2017 issues they submitted to CASE District VI for consideration. Pictured are (back row, from left) Steve Walentik, Christianah Akinduro, Sara Bell, Wendy Allison, Jackie Schlarman, Evie Hemphill and (seated, from left) Marisol Ramirez, Bob Samples, Jami Hirsch and August Jennewein. Not pictured is Sandy Morris, the magazine art director and designer of 10 years who retired in August 2017. (Photo by August Jennewein)

What’s “grand gold” you ask?

UMSL Magazine Spring 2017 (Click to read digital issue.)

The best of the gold award winners picked by the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) District VI judges for the district’s institutional awards.

It distinguished UMSL Magazine as the top winner in “College and University General Interest Magazines.”

Judged on its fall 2016 and spring 2017 issues, UMSL Magazine came in ahead of other university general interest magazines from across the Midwest. CASE District VI represents institutions of every type and size from Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wyoming.

UMSL Magazine, which is produced by University Marketing and Communications, won for its bolder take on feature writing and design and for its high quality with such a small staff.

“I’m constantly amazed at what wonderful things this university accomplishes on a razor-thin budget,” said Martin Leifeld, vice chancellor for University Advancement.

UMSL Magazine Fall 2016 (Click to read digital issue.)

“Our small staff does an extraordinary job of sharing the stories of UMSL students, faculty and alumni themselves achieving great things on campus and in the greater community. The grand-gold designation for UMSL Magazine is well deserved and greatly appreciated.”

UMSL’s marketing and communications team had two more wins alongside its magazine: gold in “Design of Invitations” for its UMSL Golden Reunion Formal Invitation Set created by graphic designer Wendy Allison and silver in “Excellence in News Writing – General News” for content writer Jami Hirsch’s UMSL Daily coverage of the university’s community impact through people and programs that make a difference.

CASE is an international association serving educational institutions and the advancement professionals who work on their behalf in alumni relations, communications, development, marketing and related areas. The awards will be officially presented during the district’s annual conference Jan. 28-30 in St. Louis this year.