University strikes gold in two competitions

UM’s new television commercials have struck gold in two competitions, one regional and one national.

The marketing campaign developed by UM Executive Vice President Jim Foley to promote the University and boost enrollment received a Gold award and was chosen as one of 16 Best of Shows in the Admissions Marketing Report Advertising Awards Competition. It also garnered a Grand Gold award from the Council for Advancement and Support of Education District VIII Communications Awards Competition. Winners of the Grand Gold are eligible for the highest award bestowed by CASE — the Virginia Carter Smith Grand Crystal Award, to be selected during District VIII’s annual conference in late February in Boise, Idaho.

The Silver Cloud Tour, a train tour that carried UM administrators, faculty and students to Helena, Billings and Livingston to meet with prospective high school students and teachers, also received a Gold award in the AMR competition.

University Relations’ publications were not far behind, with Director Rita Munzenrider winning a CASE Gold award and a Silver award in the AMR competiton for the 2005 President’s Annual Report, “A Legacy of Giving.” The annual report highlighted the ways in which private giving over the years has strengthened the University’s programs and provided opportunities for faculty and students. The report was produced by the University Relations team of Munzenrider; Todd Goodrich, photographer; Patia Stephens, Web content manager and news editor; and Cary Shimek, senior news editor. It was designed by Neal Wiegert of UM Printing & Graphics.

Two University Relations editors won CASE Golds for feature stories in University Relations publications. Stephens won a Gold for her feature “When Speech Wasn’t Free” that appeared in the fall 2006 Montanan. She wrote of how UM professors and students embarked on a mission to find the living relatives of Montanans who were imprisoned for sedition during World War I. The students and professors were able to locate many of the descendants and led an effort that resulted in Montana Gov. Brian Schweitzer’s pardons of those convicted of sedition.
Cary Shimek won for his feature “Ranching Human Lice,” which appeared in the spring 2006 issue of Research View. Shimek painted a vivid portrait of the work of UM researchers who study body lice and the pathogens they carry — notably trench fever.

He described the work of a postdoctoral student who is charged with the care and feeding of thousands of lice to assure a ready supply for the research, which involves having lice feed on bacteria-infected rabbits and artificial membranes. The feeding allows for study of the interactions between Bartonella bacteria and lice.

Shimek also received an AMR Silver award for his work on Research View and a Merit award for Vision. Merit awards also went to a recruiting poster produced by Enrollment Services and two University Relations print ads.

“It’s been extremely fulfilling seeing this campaign unfold,” Foley said of the award-winning marketing campaign. “The response from our alumni and fans has been outstanding. They say it makes them proud to be a Griz.”

In one of UM’s seven television commercials, a leading bird researcher takes flight from the Oval. In another, a little boy wanders the Hall of Champions and dreams of the day he, too, can play for the Griz.

The commercials were created by Chisel Industries, a Montana-based marketing and production studio with Hollywood experience. Chisel uses 35-millimeter cameras, lighting equipment, camera cranes and other specialized equipment to give its work a polished look.

Five of the ads feature UM faculty members. They are chemistry Professor Garon Smith, Oxford-educated business management Assistant Professor David Firth, biology Professor Ken Dial, pharmacy practice Associate Professor Donna Beall and music Assistant Professor Luis Millan.

The other ads, focused on sports, are “Legacy,” which highlights UM’s history of athletic excellence, and “Griz Country,” about Missoula’s contagious community spirit, the fans and anticipating the football action at Washington-Grizzly Stadium.

Foley said the commercials have been shown on local Missoula television stations, cable outlets statewide, a regional sports network and ESPN during UM’s appearance in a nationally televised football playoff game.

Audio clips also are broadcast on radio stations across Montana. The spots can be displayed through interactive media — such as streaming to prospective students — as well as online and via recruitment DVDs.