SMUtube.ca, a video-based recruitment website developed for Saint Mary’s University, was awarded a gold medal by the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education at the 2008 Communications Awards held recently in Boston.

Created by the Halifax marketing firm Trampoline, the effort won praise from judges on overall design, content and writing, and use of photography, graphics and technology.

"To pique the interest of prospective students from this difficult-to-reach Generation Y audience, we knew we would have to speak their language, as this audience lives online," said Mark Gascoigne, managing director of Trampoline.

"Creating a site that invited student content was key to its authenticity and success, and we have more interesting developments to come."

More than 20,000 visitors from more than 130 countries have visited the site.

Chuck Bridges, St. Mary’s vice-president of external affairs, said the website, coupled with other elements in a comprehensive recruitment campaign, has increased 2007-08 first-year enrolment by five per cent.

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