The UCOP Communications department has won two 2026 Circle of Excellence Awards from the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) for videos that help explain UC breakthroughs.

These prestigious awards recognize exceptional achievement in advancement services, alumni relations, communications, fundraising and marketing. This year’s winners were selected from more than 4,185 nominations representing 33 countries.

“These awards are a wonderful recognition of the creativity, skill, and strategic storytelling by UCOP’s Communications team,” said Jorge Silva, UC’s associate vice president for Communications. “Projects like this help people deepen their understanding of the world, while also bringing UC research to life in ways that are engaging, accessible, and meaningful to broad audiences.”

Read more about each winning project and explore the judges’ feedback below.

Gold Award: Is Bunny the “talking” dog legit? Here’s what science says

Category: Videos — News and Research

“Is Bunny the ‘Talking’ Dog Legit?” aimed to reach two audiences: lovers of the trending TikTok “button dogs,” as well as skeptics of these dog’s ability to communicate through buttons. We wanted to focus on the claims by highlighting a scientific study conducted by University of California San Diego cognitive scientist Federico Rossano. By describing Rossano’s own initial skepticism and the history of animal communication, along with a thorough explanation of his lab’s results, we hoped to tell a complex story. We aimed to keep the video fun by showing many clips of these “button dogs” throughout. The result was a widely loved and viewed video, with more than 600,000 views across all platforms. The video is still performing well almost a year after its release.

From the judges

Judges praised this video as an exceptionally engaging and accessible example of research storytelling, noting its strong results, impressive return on investment, and broad public appeal. The panel highlighted the smart use of archival clips, effective narration, and a credible, relatable faculty expert who helped explain scientific concepts clearly and in a highly watchable way. Judges felt the video successfully connected research to a broader cultural conversation, describing it as the kind of piece that could air on a national media platform.

Bronze Award: Who really invented the iPhone

 

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Category: Videos — News and Research

From the University of California, a video about who really invented the iPhone is meant to challenge the popular perception of the singular genius behind technological innovations. In reality, these inventions often rely on university research and breakthroughs. We chose a popular clip of the comedian Bill Burr questioning Steve Jobs’ “invention” of the iPhone to hook viewers. Then we covered some major university-led innovations that define smartphone features. What resulted was an appreciation for the importance that university research plays in feeding the private sectors.

From the judges

We praised this video for addressing an important and timely issue: the value of university-led research. Judges noted the video’s strong results, impressive return on investment, and creative use of comedy to make the topic accessible and engaging for social media platforms. The narrator was described as natural and approachable, and judges appreciated the effective use of graphics and animation to advance the story.

Nearly 30 recognitions throughout UC

UC locations received 28 recognitions in the 2026 Circle of Excellence Awards overall, including 10 Golds and one Grand Gold. Explore the winning projects.

Congratulations to the following UCOP colleagues!

Kudos to the award-winning team!

• Stephen McNally
• Jess Wheelock
• Zak Long
• Robyn Schelenz
• Sara Shaffer

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