Best of CASE District V Award
 

Institution: Alumni Association-University of Akron

Title of entry: Honoring 100 years of Homecoming at The University of Akron

About this entry: In the summer of 2023, The University of Akron Office of Alumni Relations initiated a comprehensive brand package for our 100th Homecoming celebration. This package includes five specialty items intended to highlight and commemorate this significant milestone in our history.

Commemorative Homecoming T-Shirt: The t-shirts paid tribute to the original football logo, the first football stadium on campus as well as the original slogan for our athletic teams.

Athletics Logo Era ‘s Button Set: The era’s button set honored the five primary Athletics logos over the past 50 years so our alumni could proudly wear the “eras” they resonated with most.

100th Homecoming Logo Button: The button featured our 100th Homecoming logo, capturing a century's worth of homecoming memories, featuring past student athletes, past Homecoming Kings and Queens, cheerleaders, a majorette, and our beloved mascot, Zippy.

Zippy Trading Cards Set: The trading cards showcased the evolution of our beloved mascot Zippy throughout the decades and provided fun facts about the mascot including how to secure her for a future event.

100th Homecoming History Displays: The history displays offered a nostalgic journey through past Homecoming celebrations, methodically arranged by category for a user-friendly experience. Categories ranged from homecoming royalty, cheerleaders, and the marching band to historic football stadiums, notable players, and cherished homecoming traditions such as parades, campus decorating, and tailgates.

These items were all featured at the “Forever a Zip” homecoming tailgate, which drew nearly 3,500 alumni, family, friends, and students.