Circle of Excellence Award Areas and Categories

Award Areas and Categories

  1. Choose a Category
    There are 100 categories organized into 15 award areas. Many entries meet criteria for more than one category, and you can enter as many categories as you wish.

  2. Update Your CASE Profile
    Make sure your title, institution and address are correct. Click on My Account in the upper-right corner of case.org to make any changes you would like. For assistance updating your profile, contact CASE Member Support.

  3. Prepare your Nomination Materials
    Nearly every category has the same standard entry questions:
    -- Provide a concise summary of your entry (250 words maximum)
    -- Methodology and Strategy: How did you accomplish your goals? Provide a list of no more than 10 key activities and/or decisions that were central to your success.
    -- Resources: Describe and detail how your resources were used (budget and staff)
    -- Outcomes: Describe your goals/objectives and how they were measured/met.
    -- What makes your entry distinctive?
    (A few categories have additional questions specific to that award area.)

  4. Submit your Nomination
    Using our online portal, entering and updating your information is easy. Use this link to get started or return to your nominations.

    The portal accepts most file types and files up to 500MB. (For larger files such as videos, please provide a hyperlink.)

    New for 2021: You can grant others access to your nominations in order to make it easier to collaborate on submissions. Select "Manage Collaborators" in the upper-right corner of a nomination you have started.

    Prepare all of your entries and add them to your cart until you are ready to pay.

  5. Pay for your Nomination
    Once you are satisfied that your entry materials are complete, follow the prompts to check out and pay for your entry. All payments must be made online via credit card. CASE does not issue invoices or accept purchase orders.

  6. Print a receipt
    Go to "My Account" at www.case.org.
    Select "Purchase History" in the left navigation.
    Click on the blue "order number" to see a detailed receipt you can print.
     

    Important notes:
  • Once you have paid for your entry, you can not make any changes to the nomination.
  • It will take approximately 60 minutes after you make your payment for it to be recognized in the system.

Related Categories:

Related categories:

Related Categories:

Tip: Many nominations easily qualify for entry in more than one category. You can easily copy nomination information from one category to another, but each entry requires its own separate fee. If an entry does not meet the criteria for a category in which it is entered, CASE and the award judges reserve the right to move the entry to a more appropriate category. 

    Related Categories:

     

    Tip: Many nominations easily qualify for entry in more than one category. You can easily copy nomination information from one category to another, but each entry requires its own separate fee. If an entry does not meet the criteria for a category in which it is entered, CASE and the award judges reserve the right to move the entry to a more appropriate category. 

      Related Categories:

      Grand Gold and Gold Award winners from the following categories are automatically considered for the Robert Sibley Magazine of the Year Award: Alumni/General Interest Magazines (published at least twice a year), Independent School Magazines, Magazines on a Shoestring, and Targeted Constituency Magazines.

      Tip: Many nominations easily qualify for entry in more than one category. You can easily copy nomination information from one category to another, but each entry requires its own separate fee. If an entry does not meet the criteria for a category in which it is entered, CASE and the award judges reserve the right to move the entry to a more appropriate category. 

      Related Categories:

      Tip: Entries in Publications categories are judged on a variety of criteria, including content, effectiveness, and use of resources. While design is also a consideration, publications entered in the Design categories are evaluated primarily on the basis of design, graphics and layout. You may enter the same publication in as many categories for which it meets eligibility requirements.

      Note: Due to COVID-19, we have expanded and updated the Special Event categories to accommodate the many online events that were created during the pandemic.

      Related Category:

      Tip: Many articles easily qualify for entry in more than one category. You can easily copy nomination information from one category to another, but each entry requires its own separate fee. If an entry does not meet the criteria for a category in which it is entered, CASE and the award judges reserve the right to move the entry to a more appropriate category. 

      A few tips 
      • Most materials meet the criteria for more than one category. Which one(s) you enter is entirely up to you. (On rare occasions where an entry does not meet the entry requirements for a category, CASE and the judge coordinators will move the entry to the most proper category.)
      • You can submit the same entry for as many categories as it is eligible. (Just note that each entry requires its own entry fee.) 
      • Judges are looking for innovative ideas, impressive and measurable results and outcomes, judicious use of resources, and best practices that other institutions can adapt and implement for their benefit.
      • Check out previous winners in a category to see if your entry is comparable.

      Related Awards

      Robert Sibley Magazine of the Year Award
      Platinum Awards