Dance Marathon Programs Recognized with Awards at Dance Marathon Leadership Conference 2020
Each year at the Dance Marathon Leadership Conference, Miracle Network Dance Marathon recognizes and celebrates the achievements of collegiate Dance Marathon organizations that demonstrate excellence in programming and initiatives as they champion the cause of local Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals and provide valuable experiences for members of the campus and local communities.
Check out the award winners below and click the links to learn more about each award winner’s outstanding efforts from the past year.
ALUMNI ENGAGEMENT AWARD:
The Alumni Engagement Award recognizes a dance marathon organization and/or a dance marathon alumni organization that has made a successful effort to engage Dance Marathon alumni. Two campuses were honored with this award this year. Congratulations to the winners of the 2020 Alumni Engagement Award, Indiana University Dance Marathon and Jagathon: IUPUI’s Dance Marathon. Learn more about their efforts here and here.
BEST HIGH SCHOOL DANCE MARATHON:
The Best High School Dance Marathon award goes to a high school dance marathon program that has demonstrated fundraising success, year-round programming and Dance Marathon event execution. Congratulations to the winner of the 2020 Best High School Dance Marathon Award, Leon High School, a mini-marathon program under Dance Marathon at Florida State University. Learn more about their efforts here.
BEST NEW DANCE MARATHON:
The Best New Dance Marathon Award recognizes a Miracle Network Dance Marathon organization that hosted its first or second Dance Marathon event in the 2019-2020 academic year and is chosen based on a combination of fundraising success, year-round programming, and Dance Marathon event execution. Congratulations to the winner of the 2020 Best New Dance Marathon award, Dance Marathon at Missouri State! Learn more about their efforts here.
CAMPAIGN ACTIVATION AWARD:
The Campaign Activation Award recognizes an outstanding campaign implemented by a dance marathon program that utilizes targeted efforts and provides unique content to increase awareness, participation, and engagement for a dance marathon program. Congratulations to the winner of the 2020 Campaign Activation Award, University of Arkansas Dance Marathon! Learn more about their efforts here.
CAMPUS ADVISOR OF THE YEAR AWARD:
The Campus Advisor Award recognizes a dance marathon campus advisor that goes above and beyond to help a Dance Marathon program succeeded in their efforts for the kids. Congratulations to the winner of the 2020 Campus Advisor of the Year Award, Matty Kerr at South Dakota State University. Learn more about Matty’s accomplishments as a Campus Advisor here.
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AWARD:
The Community Engagement Award recognizes the Dance Marathon organization that executed a successful initiative, event, or campaign to reach a new demographic in the campus or local community over the past year. Congratulations to the winner of the 2020 Community Engagement Award, Soonerthon at the University of Oklahoma! Learn more about their efforts here.
DIGITAL MEDIA AWARD:
The Digital Media Award recognizes a dance marathon organization that best utilizes digital media to bring the mission of their organization to life, whether it be to highlight a campaign, educate and engage their audiences, or tell a story. Congratulations to the winner of the 2020 Digital Media Award, University of Northern Iowa Dance Marathon ! Learn more about their efforts here.
DONOR STEWARDSHIP AWARD:
The Donor Stewardship Award is presented to the Dance Marathon organization that has demonstrated outstanding donor recognition, re-engagement, and communication practices, or who has made the largest strides in this area, over the past year. Congratulations to the winner of the 2020 Donor Stewardship Award, Purdue University Dance Marathon! Learn more about their efforts here.
HOSPITAL ADVISOR OF THE YEAR AWARD:
The Hospital Advisor of the Year Award recognizes an advisor or team of advisors that have gone above and beyond in supporting the Dance Marathon programs that benefit their hospital or foundation. Congratulations to the winner of the 2020 Hospital Advisor of the Year Award, Sophia Rabbat from Nicklaus Children’s Hospital. Learn more about Sophia’s accomplishments as a Hospital Advisor here.
MERCHANDISE AWARD:
The Merchandise Award recognizes a program that most successfully utilizes innovative merchandise for spreading awareness, recognition tools for their hospital or sponsors, fundraising, and/or incentivizing participants. Congratulations to the winner of the 2020 Merchandise Award, Dance Marathon at San Diego State University! Learn more about their efforts here.
MARATHON PROGRAMMING AWARD:
The Marathon Programming Award recognizes an organization that implemented exceptional and engaging programming during their Dance Marathon event that positively contributed to the experience of everyone participating. Congratulations to the winner of the 2020 Marathon Programming Award, Dance Marathon at Florida State University! Learn more about their efforts here.
MOST IMPROVED DANCE MARATHON:
The Most Improved Dance Marathon award will recognize an organization that has taken significant steps to increase funds raised and overall dancer participation and/or improve the execution of their event or year-round programming. The 2020 Most Improved Dance Marathon award went to the University of Alabama Dance Marathon. Read more about their efforts here.
ORGANIZATION MANAGEMENT AWARD:
The Organization Management Award recognizes a program that demonstrates success in areas such as board and committee structure, retreats, strategic planning, internal communication, and data tracking. Congratulations to the winners of the 2020 Organization Management Award, OttoTHON at Syracuse University. Learn more about their efforts here.
PARTICIPANT COMMUNICATION AWARD:
The Participant Communication Award recognizes programs that have been successful in communicating with their registered participants through a variety of channels throughout the entire year, educating their participation about their organization and the cause. Congratulations to the winner of the 2020 Participant Communication Award, Hatterthon at Stetson University! Learn more about their efforts here.
PARTICIPANT STEWARDSHIP AWARD:
The Participant Stewardship Award is presented to a program that has demonstrated outstanding participant recognition and retention efforts, or who has made the largest strides in this area over the past year. Congratulations to the winner of the 2020 Participant Stewardship Award, HuskyTHON at the University of Connecticut! Learn more about their efforts here.
PARTNERSHIP AWARD:
The Partnership Award recognizes the Miracle Network Dance Marathon organization and their respective partner that demonstrated the most collaborative and mutually beneficial partnership in the past year. Congratulations to the winners of the 2020 Partnership Award, Vanderbilt University Dance Marathon. Learn more about their efforts here.
RYAN WHITE AWARD FOR OVERCOMING ADVERSITY:
Ryan White is a hero for his lasting legacy of overcoming adversity and using it to make a positive impact on the world. The Ryan White Award for Overcoming Adversity is presented to a program whose experience in overcoming a significant obstacle best exemplifies Ryan’s spirit and perseverance in the face of adversity. Congratulations to the winner of the 2020 Ryan White Award for Overcoming Adversity, UGA Miracle at the University of Georgia. Learn more about their efforts here.
VIRTUAL MARATHON PROGRAMMING AWARD:
The Virtual Marathon Programming Award recognizes an organization that implemented exceptional and engaging virtual programming that positively engaged their constituents. Congratulations to the winner of the 2020 Virtual Marathon Programming Award, Dance Marathon at Louisiana State University! Learn more about their efforts here.
MIRACLE MAKER AWARDS:
The Miracle Maker Awards recognize the Dance Marathon programs that had the highest combined monetary and percentage increases in their overall fundraising over the previous year. These programs demonstrate that it is possible to continue to build a lasting tradition on campus and grow their fundraising year-after-year for their local CMN Hospital. Programs are categorized for the awards based on their founding year as a Miracle Network Dance Marathon program.
Miracle Maker Award: Years 15+
Congratulations to the Miracle Maker Award winner for programs in years 15+, increasing their fundraising by 14%, a monetary growth of over $190,000 resulting in a fundraising total of over $1.52 million— HuskyTHON at the University of Connecticut.
Miracle Maker Award: Years 10-14
After increasing their fundraising by 19%, the Miracle Maker Award for programs in years 10-14 goes to UIndy Dance Marathon at the University of Indianapolis.
Miracle Maker Award: Years 7-9
Congratulations to the Miracle Maker Award winner for programs in years 7-9, increasing their fundraising by 24%— Raiderthon at Wright State University.
Miracle Maker Award: Years 4-6
The Miracle Maker Award winner for programs in years 4-6 goes to a program that increased their fundraising by 68%—Mississippi College Dance Marathon.
Miracle Maker Award: Years 2-3
Congratulations to the Miracle Maker Award winner for programs in years 2-3, increasing their fundraising by 136%— Utah State University Dance Marathon!
Miracle Maker Award: Year 1
The Miracle Maker Award winner for first-year programs raised over $34,000 in their inaugural year. Congratulations to Dance Marathon at High Point University.
Miracle Network Dance Marathon is an international movement, involving over 400 colleges, universities and K-12 schools across North America that fundraise for their local Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals. Since its inception in 1991, Miracle Network Dance Marathon has raised more than $300 million–ensuring that no child or family fights pediatric illness or injury alone.
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