Auburn University PSA featuring Tim Cook wins top award from higher education organization

“War Eagle,” a public service announcement produced by Auburn University and aired on national television, has garnered a Grand Award from the Council for Advancement and Support of Education. CASE presented the honor at its annual District III conference Feb. 26 in Atlanta.

Using the famed pregame eagle flights as a common thread, the PSA celebrates the value and impact an Auburn degree has on the success and careers of graduates. The spot features noted Auburn alumni at various stages of their careers, many in leadership roles.

The alumni are: Tim Cook, CEO, Apple Inc.; Ace Atkins, Best-selling Author; Robert Cofield, Engineer, Tesla; Laura Folse, CEO, BP Wind Energy; Chief Justice Harold Melton, Supreme Court of Georgia; and Carrie Williams, Producer, Comedy Central. Two additional Auburn alumni contributed behind the scenes on the piece—Creative Director Ed Miller as writer/director and Actor Thom Gossom as voice talent.

“War Eagle” is one of three Auburn PSAs written and directed by Miller, who has provided creative direction for international clients such as Toyota, Hyundai and Pedigree. For each Auburn PSA, he has volunteered his time to help the university tell its story.

“From New York to Los Angeles or London to Abu Dhabi, I have often told others that my Auburn degree is the single factor that allowed me to be working with them that day,” said Miller. “When Auburn graduates move into the workforce, they have been prepared with the life and leadership skills needed to be successful in any instance. We feel we have captured that in our PSAs.”

Auburn’s award-winning PSA can be viewed at http://auburn.edu/commercial/2017/.