Six major awards and one undeniable message: East Tennessee State University’s storytelling is striking a chord.
ETSU earned six awards in the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) Best of District III 2025 competition.
There were 829 entries from District III in the 2025 CASE Circle of Excellence competition. ETSU is one of 72 institutions from District III to be represented through the Best of District honor.
Earlier this year, CASE also announced that ETSU earned a Circle of Excellence Award for the “Bucs on Parade” fundraising and hype video.
ETSU’s District III awards include:
Bucs on Parade Fundraising and Hype Video
ETSU’s “Bucs on Parade” video ignited excitement for the Marching Bucs’ historic Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade debut, while rallying alumni and supporters through powerful storytelling that fueled major fundraising success.
Hurricane Helene's Impact in Appalachia: Rising with Hope
Created after Hurricane Helene’s devastating floods, “Rising with Hope” used expert insight, drone footage and real stories to explain the disaster and guide recovery — transforming complex climate science into a message of clarity, resilience and hope for Appalachian communities in crisis.
Bucs Rebuild Together: ETSU’s Response to Hurricane Helene
After Hurricane Helene struck the Appalachian region, ETSU launched “Bucs Rebuild Together,” a central online hub to connect students, employees, and the community with hurricane relief resources, volunteer opportunities, and support services. The site quickly became a vital source of information and unity, drawing thousands of visitors and showcasing ETSU’s commitment to helping the region recover.
‘Bucs on Parade’: A Comprehensive Multi-Channel Campaign
The “Bucs on Parade” campaign celebrated ETSU’s Marching Bucs as they made history in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, using social media, news coverage, and community events to rally support and national attention for the university. It brought together storytelling, fundraising and fan engagement to spotlight ETSU on one of the biggest stages in the country.
Bucs on Parade in NYC
ETSU launched the “Bucs on Parade” campaign to unify and amplify the university’s presence at the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade — developing a branded digital hub, media toolkit, and custom merchandise that showcased school pride, equipped supporters, and reporters and strengthened the university’s national visibility and community engagement.
ETSU Holiday Traditions Microsite
To bring holiday traditions together in one place, ETSU launched a festive microsite showcasing events, stories, and activities for students, alumni and the community. The easy-to-use page made it simple to join the celebrations — helping drive record attendance at holiday events and strengthening campus and community connections.
