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• 2023-24 Creative & Digital Design Contest: Finalists announced in CSC Photographer and Designer of the Year portfolio categories (May 7, 2024)
CSC announces exciting updates for 2023-24 Creative & Digital Design Contest
Some of the enhancements this year include: new contests and consolidating of returning contests, all submissions deadlines toward the end of the academic year, expanded divisional recognition, winners of portfolio contests to be announced in-person during #CSCUnite24 convention.

The nomination deadline has past. “Portfolio” contests - April 8 at Midnight (ET); General contests - May 3 at Midnight (ET)
2023-24 CSC Creative & Digital Design Contest Information

Each year, CSC recognizes outstanding work by the membership in the area of creative and digital design. Contests for 2023-24 have been revamped with new awards being offered. See below for all the details. These contests are open exclusively for current CSC members. Direct any questions to the contest coordinator or CSC Committee Chair Riley Baker (Riley.d.baker@wsu.edu) or Vice Chair Patrick Murphy (pmurphy@mines.edu). See the bottom of this page for descriptions of each contest.
 
DEADLINES! Deadlines are clearly marked and all submissions must be entered in the CSC Awards Portal by the correct deadline to be considered. Take careful note of which contests fall under which deadline. The deadline for “portfolio” contests is April 8, while the deadline for all other general contests is May 3.

Contest Types
This year, there are 14 categories available for CSC members to submit their work with each category split into University and College division entries for a total of 28 contests. New this year are awards for short form videos/reels, signing day packages (any sport) and video of the year. Descriptions for each contest are available at the bottom of this page.

**YOU MAY ONLY ENTER A PIECE OF CONTENT IN ONE CONTEST. DO NOT ENTER THE SAME THING IN MULTIPLE CONTESTS. THE ONLY EXCEPTIONS TO THIS ARE ENTRIES FOR GENERAL CONTESTS BEING INCLUDED IN ENTRIES FOR PORTFOLIO CONTESTS**

Divisions: Separate contests will be judged in all categories in two divisions — University and College. The University division is all NCAA Division I schools. The college division includes all NCAA Division II and Division III schools, NAIA schools, Canadian institutions, two-year colleges and high schools.

Contest Entry
The 2023-24 contests will be conducted via online submission. Email submissions are not accepted. Please make sure you type the name of your school and your name EXACTLY how you want it on the certificate and ensure you have chosen the correct contest when submitting your entry.

Contest Results
The 2023-24 contest results will be announced in a new format this year. “Portfolio” contest finalists will be announced in late April/early May with winners announced on site during the 2024 CSC Unite Convention in Las Vegas June 9-12. All general contest winners and top places will be announced on June 12.

New this year, in addition to recognizing the top overall places for each contest category as listed below, top finishers from each of the College Division categories will be recognized as well, based on the number of entries per level of the division (i.e., the best works from Division II, Division III, the NAIA, Canadian institutions, two-year colleges and other institutions will also be recognized even if they do not place in the overall contest results).

Contests are ONLY open to current 2023-24 dues-paying College Sports Communicators members. Members MAY NOT submit entries on behalf of non-CSC members.

National Recruiting Compliance Guidelines
Those who enter the Creative and Digital Design Contest are required to understand how the publications fit within their national governing body compliance and recruiting guidelines. Each publication MUST be compliant under the rules of the governing organization of the school that is entering the contest.

2023-24 Creative & Digital Design Contest Descriptions
 
Portfolio Contests
Submissions for all "portfolio" contests must be received by Midnight (ET) on April 8, 2024. Finalists will be announced on in late April/early May with winners announced during the #CSCUnite24 Convention.

Photographer of the Year (Portfolio)
Submission deadline: April 8, 2024
Two divisions (University and College) are offered for Photographer of the Year. No more than 25 photos from a single photographer submitted as a pdf with one photo on a page with cutlines. Photos from the 2023-24 academic year can be submitted. A photographer must be a dues-paying member of CSC. Only one entry for a photographer. Any entries submitted that do not follow the guidelines will be disqualified.
Coordinators: College: Tommy Chasanoff, University of the Cumberlands; University: Lindsey Williams, Great Lakes Valley Conference

Designer of the Year (Portfolio)
Submission deadline: April 8, 2024
Two divisions (University and College) are offered for Designer of the Year. Any design work of no more than 25 pieces from a single designer submitted as a pdf with one design on a page with descriptions. Designs from the 2023-24 academic year can be submitted. The designer must be a dues-paying member of CSC. Only one entry for a designer. Any entries submitted that do not follow the guidelines will be disqualified.
Coordinators: College: Jesse Campbell, NCCAA; University: Alex Falk, New Jersey City University

 
General Contests
Submissions for all general contests must be received by Midnight (ET) on May 3, 2024. Winners will be announced on June 12.

**NEW** Short Form Video/Reels
Submission deadline: May 3, 2024
Two divisions (University and College) are offered for the contest.These are in-house produced videos and/or reels used to promote an athlete, program, game and/or event through social media outlets. Entries longer than 90 seconds in length will be disqualified. No more than four from any one sport can be entered in the contest. An entrant could have multiple entries, several of which could place in this contest.
Coordinators: College: Gene Cassell, Washburn University; University: Bryce Johnson, Black Hills State University

**NEW** Signing Day Package
Submission deadline: May 3, 2024
Two divisions (University and College) are offered for this contest. This contest is designed to showcase the best signing day package produced for any sport and should be submitted as a portfolio. These are in-house produced graphics (non-motion) used to promote the signing of incoming student-athletes and should be in compliance with national recruiting guidelines as mentioned above. An entrant could have multiple entries, several of which could place in this contest. The use of a design service (i.e., Learfield, Box Out, Scoreshots, Gipper) is not permitted.
Coordinators: College: Donnie Smith, Southeastern University; University: TBD

**NEW** Video of the Year
Submission deadline: May 3, 2024
Two divisions (University and College) are offered for Video of the Year. Any single video piece from the 2023-24 year. A videographer must be a dues-paying member of CSC. Any video from the 2023-24 academic year can be submitted.
Coordinators: College: Kevin Edelson, Boston University; University: TBD

Photo of the Year
Submission deadline: May 3, 2024
Two divisions (University and College) are offered for Photo of the Year. Any single-game photo, submitted with cutline from a sporting event submitted as a pdf file. Two divisions (University and College) are offered for the contest. A photographer must be a dues-paying member of CSC. Any photo from the 2023-24 academic year can be submitted. Any entries submitted that do not follow the guidelines will be disqualified.
Coordinators: College: Rich Moser, Eastern Illinois University; University: Kelsey Whaley, University of St. Thomas

Game Notes
Submission deadline: May 3, 2024
Two divisions (University and College) are offered for game notes. These are changing publications that are produced for each game or group of games and have a primary purpose to provide a preview of a game/match. Game notes are produced for each game throughout the season. A change to the contest for this year, all entries from all seasons will be judged as one category. Three versions (updates) of each game notes entered are required for judging. An entrant could have multiple entries in different sports, several of which could place in this contest.
Coordinators: College: Ben Greenberg, CSU-Pueblo; University: Brent Ingram, Baylor University

Game Day Graphics
Submission deadline: May 3, 2024
Two divisions (University and College) are offered for this contest. These are in-house produced graphics (non-motion) used to promote a program or game through social media outlets. Entries from the previous academic year are allowed for all spring championships, which could not be entered in last year’s contest. No more than five graphics can be entered and each graphic should be entered separately. An entrant could have multiple entries, several of which could place in this contest. The use of a design service (i.e., Learfield, Box Out, Scoreshots, Gipper) is not permitted.
Coordinators: College: Andy DeVito, Ohio State University; University: Tony Venegas, Belmont Abbey College

Long Form Video/Features Recaps
Submission deadline: May 3, 2024
Two divisions (University and College) are offered for this video contest, where entries are focused on a match, game or student-athlete/coach feature. All video entries must be developed in-house and not from an outside agency and cannot be longer than 5 minutes in length. If the entry is longer than 5 minutes it will be disqualified. An entrant could have multiple entries, several of which could place in this contest.
Coordinators: College: Dan Ruede, University of New Haven; University: Ryan Workman, Iowa State University

Media Guides/Game Programs
Submission deadline: May 3, 2024
Two divisions (University and College) are offered for media guides and game day programs. A change to the contest for this year, due to low numbers and participation, the previous contests of Media Guides, Conference Media Guides, Postseason Guides and Game Day Programs have been consolidated into one contest for digital and/or printed supplemental materials. All entries from all seasons will be judged as one category. These are publications that are produced by an institution or a conference to provide information to the media about an upcoming season, produced by an institution to provide information to the media about a season just past that has resulted in postseason play or are changing publications that are produced for each home game or group of home games and have a primary purpose of resale to the attending public. There must be three different versions of a series of game programs submitted or the game program will be disqualified. Programs that are produced as a single-issue program to be sold throughout the season (no changing copy) should be entered in the special programs category. Entries from the postseason of the previous academic year are allowed for all spring championships, which could not be entered in last year’s contest. An entrant could have multiple entries, several of which could place in this contest.
Coordinators: College: Dave Beyer, Mississippi University for Women; University: Bryan Montgomery, Jesuit College Prep School of Dallas

Non-Game Day Graphics
Submission deadline: May 3, 2024
Two divisions (University and College) are offered for this contest. A change to the contest for this year, all entries from all seasons will be judged as one category. Last year, this contest was the Statistical Milestone Graphic Contest and has been reorganized to allow for more participation and exhibit further creativity by the membership. These are in-house produced graphics (non-motion) used to promote an athlete/coach/program winning an award/championship/other distinction, breaking a significant mark in a program/at the national level or any other such event that could be recognized in a visual setting. An entrant could have multiple entries, several of which could place in this contest. The use of a design service (i.e., Learfield, Box Out, Scoreshots, Gipper) is not permitted.
Coordinators: College: Christian Gravius, University of Richmond; University: Ryan Prickett, Fort Hays State University

Online Magazines/Special Event Program
Submission deadline: May 3, 2024
Two divisions (University and College) are offered for online magazines/special event programs. Defined as any program not associated with a game day program (I.E. - Hall of Fame) or an online magazine promoting the athletic department. These are publications that are produced by an institution intended for distribution to the general public and viewed through the web or mobile apps or by mail. These are not to be confused with single-use graphics used to promote any special event.
Coordinators: College: Jimmy Habecker, Keuka College; University: Patrick Murphy, Colorado School of Mines

Posters
Submission deadline: May 3, 2024
There are a total of two poster contests as poster contests have been combined. These are publications that are produced to promote some aspect of the athletic program and distributed for general use by media, team members and fans or any combination of the same. An entrant could have multiple entries, several of which could place in this contest. The use of a design service (i.e., Learfield, Box Out, Scoreshots, Gipper) is not permitted.
Coordinators: College: Zachary Shore, Conference Carolinas; University: Tyler Stotsky, Ohio Dominican

Hype/Pregame Videos
Submission deadline: May 3, 2024
Two divisions (University and College) are offered for this video feature contest, where entries are focused on pregame or “hype” videos. A change to the contest for this year, all entries from all seasons will be judged as one category. Entries from the previous academic year are allowed for all spring championships, which could not be entered in last year’s contest. These can include in-stadium/arena videos starting lineup videos. All video entries must be developed in-house and not from an outside agency. An entrant could have multiple entries, several of which could place in this contest.
Coordinators: College: Willie Scott, Southern University; University: Joseph Templin, Charlotte

Contest Rules

Places will be awarded in each contest. Here’s the breakdown. For contests exceeding 50 entries, this same placement is used for district competition. District places will not be awarded unless 50 or more submissions are entered.

1-3 entries            one place
4-8 entries            two places
9-14 entries          three places
15-21 entries        four places
22-28 entries        five places
29-40 entries        eight places
41-59 entries        10 places
60+ entries           15 places

Ties are broken using the score from Judge #1.

New this year, in addition to recognizing the top overall places for each contest category as listed above, top finishers from each of the College Division categories will be recognized as well, based on the number of entries per level of the division (i.e., the best works from Division II, Division III, the NAIA, Canadian institutions, two-year colleges and other institutions will also be recognized even if they do not place in the overall contest results).
  • An entry must be submitted according to the division in which that sport actually competes. For instance, if a school is NCAA-I in ice hockey and NCAA-II in all other sports, it must enter its ice hockey in the university division and its other publications in the college division.
  • Best Cover will be awarded in all publications contests such as media guides and game programs.
  • The CSC member at the school entering an item into the contest, or the name on the certificate must be a dues-paying CSC member to win an award.
  • All publications produced or designed solely by advertising agencies, graphic design houses or other companies outside of the athletic department will be disqualified. The CSC member must have control over the design and content.
  • Any publication submitted in the wrong division or category, or submitted late, will be disqualified. Contest coordinators will not forward entries that are improperly entered.
  • For all contests, the nominees MUST BE a dues-paying member of CSC to win the award. Submissions by CSC members on behalf of non-CSC members will NOT be accepted.