December 2, 2025
The University of Southern Indiana has been recognized with a Best of District V Award from the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) for its entry, Solarpalooza: How Totality Changed the Trajectory of USI.
The award celebrates the University’s outstanding achievement in multi-day event production and the marketing and communications work supporting it. The winning entry highlighted USI’s unique campus-wide celebration of the 2024 Great American Eclipse, which brought together thousands of students, alumni and community members to experience the event and showcase USI’s spirit of innovation, discovery and connection.
In April 2024, North America prepared to witness the celestial rarity known as a total solar eclipse, and the USI campus lay directly in the path of totality. University leadership recognized the potential impact and spent over two years planning a community and campus extravaganza called Solarpalooza. This collaboration across numerous academic and administrative departments, with extensions into the community and regional plans, led to one of the largest events in USI history. Solarpalooza exemplified USI's dedication to combining education, community engagement and institutional visibility.
“This recognition reflects the creativity, collaboration and dedication of the entire USI community,” said Megan Doyle, Associate Director of Special Events. “Solarpalooza captured not just a rare astronomical moment but also the energy and momentum of Screaming Eagles near and far.”
CASE District V represents higher education institutions across Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio and Wisconsin. The annual Best of District V Awards honor excellence in advancement, encompassing communications, alumni relations, fundraising and marketing throughout the region.
Winners will be recognized at the joint District V Annual Conference in Indianapolis, Indiana, April 27–29.
The CASE recognition underscores USI’s continued commitment to innovative storytelling and community engagement, both on campus and beyond.
Event materials and recap media are available at USI.edu/solarpalooza.