East Campus, Heritage Hall video earns kudos from ad professionals

KALAMAZOO, Mich.—A video produced to celebrate the rebirth of the Western Michigan University birthplace has won a bronze "Addy" award from an organization that represents advertising professionals from across West Michigan.

"Memories of East Campus," a two-minute video produced by Kalamazoo's Rhino Media for WMU's Office of Development and Alumni Relations, was honored at the American Advertising Federation of West Michigan's annual awards ceremony in Grand Rapids. The video won a bronze—third place—award in the Branded Content and Entertainment—Nonbroadcast category.

About the video

The video was made to mark the renovation and reopening in October of Heritage Hall, WMU's birthplace and original building. The video was shown during WMU homecoming weekend just after the building was formally reopened following a massive two-year renovation.

The production focuses on Heritage Hall's classic exterior and its position atop Prospect Hill overlooking downtown Kalamazoo. The footage depicts various individuals and groups of students engaged in traditional Prospect Hill activities-- studying, viewing a sunrise over the city, throwing Frisbees, proposing marriage, running and playing musical instruments.

Watch the video here.

This is the first year Rhino has entered the Addy competition. The young Kalamazoo video firm that has been working with WMU over the past two years entered four pieces of its work, including three for other entities.  Rhino won awards for all—two gold-level Addys and two bronze.

This year's competition was among the professional organization's toughest, with a total of 461 professional and student entries—up from 308 in 2015.

For more news, arts and events, visit wmich.edu/news.