A record-breaking nine awards, compared to last year’s three, were given to students and staff designers of UW-Eau Claire at the Association of College Unions International regional conference.

ACUI consists of colleges and universities from Wisconsin, Michigan and Illinois.

On Oct. 26-28, UW-Stevens Point hosted a graphic design competition for students and staff creations.

Senior graphic design major Sarah Karow shared a first-place award with 2001 UW-Eau Claire graduate Norman Orstad for their 2000-2001 design of The Forum and Artist Series brochure.

In addition to her work for the Artists Series, Karow also creates posters, flyers, brochures and advertisements for The Spectator and Leader-Telegram.

“It’s interesting to see the different people that we bring to the university,” Karow said.

Orstad also received honorable mention for his brochure on the Davies Center building directory.

Senior Derek Wallen received first place and two honorable mentions for his poster designs as well.

In the staff portion of the conference, 2000 graduate Jennifer Walde was awarded first place for her booklet on the sixty seasons of The Forum series.

Her 2001 brochure on Summer Session Programs and a poster for the Lyra Concert Baroque Orchestra received honorable mentions.

Students from other UW System schools, including Milwaukee, Oshkosh, Stevens Point, Whitewater and Madison competed against Eau Claire’s graphic designers.

“We’ve never won as many awards as this year,” said Juelie Sires, information design program manager.

The design program has employed graphic designers since 1987 and gives relevant and concrete experience to students, she said.

Sires also said that the university benefits from the Artists Series because the designs give recognition.

At the 81st annual National Conference in March of 2000 in Toronto, Canada, Walde, Orstad and fellow UW-Eau Claire graduate Ben Garthus, received seven awards.