Crimson & Black story takes home Best of District award

A recent Crimson & Black magazine story received a Best of District award in the 2026 Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) Circle of Excellence Awards contest.

“Grave Discoveries,” written by CWU Associate Director of Strategic Communications David Leder, was recognized last week when the Best of District VIII winners were announced.

The story, published in the Fall 2025 edition, centered around the work of CWU alumnus and former American Indian Studies Director Jon Olney Shellenberger, who has engaged in a multi-year effort to uncover unmarked graves around Washington state, including on Yakama Nation tribal land.

CASE informed Leder and the Office of Marketing and Communications about the award via email on November 2.

“As the region’s leading resource for improving advancement practices, CASE District VIII is laser-focused on emerging trends and opportunities to enhance advancement initiatives,” the email said. “Your work ensures that our profession continues to innovate and improve our practices.”

Each of the contest winners from District VII and District VIII will be honored at the March 8-10, 2027, annual conference in Vancouver, B.C.

The Circle of Excellence Awards contest accepts applications in January and February, and the overall winners — some of whom are from outside the U.S. — are announced in the summer. The judges then select the Best of District Award winners in the fall. District VIII consists of Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Alaska, and western Canada.

Crimson & Black last earned a Best of District award in 2024, when it was recognized in the Magazines Alumni/General Interest category.

Production of the magazine, which is now an annual publication, shifted to University Advancement earlier this year. The Fall 2026 edition arrived in mailboxes last month.