THE NEW STANDARD FOR ALUMNI STORYTELLING

Spotlight your proudest advocates.

Creativity

Beyond Campus

Your Partner in Alumni Storytelling and Creative Services

Alumni Stories As Engagement Tools

Stories are the tools that keep your brand relevant. When you work with Cardinal, you can expect:

Increased Brand Reach
Increased Sponsorship Revenue
Increased Donor Loyalty

THREE CARDINAL RULES FOR HIGHER EDUCATION

(And how we’re implementing them)

01

Tell Original Stories

When you increase digital engagement with positive stories, you increase your reach to alumni and prospective students. More views, additional clicks, increased email opens – people engage with evergreen content because they’re proud of their own.

In the world of alumni relations, graduates are questioning your value to their lives. Show them the power of their degree and the value of connection back to their alma mater.

02

Maximize Your Assets

Effective control of sponsorship inventories maximizes revenue and fosters strategic partnerships. Universities can increase income by cobranding alumni spotlights with corporate partners, enhancing visibility for all involved.

Forget selling sponsorships for alumni golf tournaments and campus events. We’re talking about scalable cobranded content that all alumni and students can see.

03

Build Authentic Relationships

Asking alumni to give back becomes natural when we share their stories first. Cardinal creates authentic bonds, making alumni feel valued and appreciated. Gone are the days of inauthentic stewardship and boring press releases. We start with stories, leading our partners to natural conversations about giving back.

Every alumni story is unique. We’ve told them here:

  • National Geographic
  • Major League Baseball
  • Virgin Voyages
  • National Park Service
  • National Hockey League
  • NASA
  • American Airlines
  • NBC Sports
  • Huffpost
  • Philadelphia Orchestra
  • Vox
  • I Heart Radio
  • Lyft
  • Major League Soccer

Alumni Spotlight

The Seventh Summit

Our spotlight film, The Seventh Summit, follows Brian Cheripko’s adventure to Mt. Everest and his deep affinity for West Virginia University.

Event Recap

Auburn on the Hill

Cardinal Creative works with Auburn University to capture stories about alumni and students at events like “Auburn on the Hill”.

One Alumni Story, Everything You Need.

Our straight-forward process produces meaningful stories with minimal effort for our partners.

Spotlight Film & Assets

Our expert multimedia team creates branded Spotlight Videos, showcasing alumni experiences with compelling storytelling, high-quality visuals, and dynamic editing.

Marketing Distribution Strategy

Cardinal collaborates with each partner to recommend a unique distribution strategy based on compelling assets and the institution's reach.

Email Content

Cardinal Creative crafts unique email content for every story and each department, ensuring brand consistency while amplifying a story’s reach and value.

Social Media Content

Our social team develops unique and evergreen social media content for each of the departments we're working with at an institution.

Written Profiles

Our writers craft insightful articles for web and communications channels, sharing alumni experiences and accomplishments to foster connection and pride.

Production Coordination

Cardinal hosts an annual strategic meeting with partners to select spotlight subjects, suggests great candidates, and manages the entire production process from there.

  • “UF gave me the opportunity to assess my talents. My most transformative moments happened because of a Gator connection.”

    Careshia Moore, University of Florida

  • Paul Nolde

    “Having UVA as part of your character gives you a springboard to enter the professional world and instill in others a sense of trust."

    Paul Nolde, University of Virginia Alumni

  • "My education in West Virginia, I thought it was the best. I had good teachers. I love West Virginia. I love the hills, the places, the people."

    Katherine Johnson, WVU Alumni

  • Abby Ronson

    "If someone brings up Auburn, my face lights up. It's that close-knit community and that culture that I fell in love with."

    Abby Ronson, Auburn University Alumni

  • LTC Dave Taylor

    "There are no other alumni like West Virginia alumni. There's just a certain amount of pride with being a Mountaineer."

    LTC Dave Taylor, WVU Alumni

Can Cardinal help with other creative projects?

Yes!

Cardinal is a full-service creative agency. From membership campaign materials to fundraising proposals, we immerse ourselves in our partners’ brand and go beyond what’s expected.

Let’s work together.