Carlow University has created four new commercials using current student-athletes to begin the process of rebranding the university.
| Marketing and Communications | For Immediate Release |
| Drew Wilson, Director, Media Relations | August 10, 2016 |
| 412.578.2095 (phone) | |
| 412.260.6807 (cell) | |
| 412.578.2080 (fax) | |
| agwilson@carlow.edu |
Pittsburgh, Pa. – They came to Carlow University for an education and to play their favorite sport, but had no idea it might lead to starring roles in television commercials.
Carlow University is launching a major rebranding of the university, and the first phase of the campaign, which will be unveiled this week during the Olympics in prime time, will feature 10 current student-athletes from women’s volleyball and golf, and men’s basketball and soccer.
“The Summer Olympics has given us an unprecedented opportunity to re-introduce Carlow University to the greater Pittsburgh and western Pennsylvania market in a way that breaks with traditional methods of launching a new university brand,” said Jeanne Hartig, vice president of marketing and communications at Carlow.
She says that the commercials use athletics as the backdrop to deliver a values-driven message that is the foundation of the university’s new positioning.
“You’ll hear the words respect, trust, dignity, and faith, and see the determination of our students, their resilience, and their passion to succeed,” said Hartig. “The commercials are the first step in repositioning Carlow as a university where students can do good – and do well – and that Carlow’s values-driven education results in graduates ready to lead in an increasingly complex and challenging world.”
Links to each of the four commercials, and some background on the student-athletes in each spot are listed below:
Women’s Golf –https://youtu.be/T4Nu8Lk1Q8k
Natalie Abt – Shaler, a first year student majoring in accounting/forensic accounting.
Men’s Basketball –https://youtu.be/nzwVKfjFA6E
Miles Sunder – Jeannette, a junior majoring in business management.
Women’s Volleyball – https://youtu.be/thsVcqyJNaI
Kristina Hudock – Uniontown/Laurel Highlands High School, a junior majoring in early childhood education.
Michaela Koran – North Olmstead, Ohio, a sophomore majoring in nursing.
Mia Marmion – Upper St. Clair, a junior majoring in early childhood education/special education.
Men’s Soccer –https://youtu.be/cVrB88xfMvw
Gregorie Paluku – Brashear High School, a first year student majoring in criminal justice, with a minor in information technology.
Cory Bevan – Brashear High School, a first year student majoring in business management.
Anthony DeMartino – Munhall, Pa., a sophomore majoring in criminal justice.
Dinesh Nepal – Dormont, Pa., a sophomore majoring in accounting.
Cody Dovishaw – Erie, Pa., a senior majoring in sociology, with a concentration in criminal justice.
Carlow competes in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics’ (NAIA) River States Conference, which includes teams in Pennsylvania, Ohio, West Virginia, Indiana, and Kentucky.
“The NAIA has a program called ‘Champions of Character,’ which seeks to instill the values of integrity, respect, responsibility, sportsmanship, and servant leadership into athletic competition,” said George Sliman, Carlow’s director of athletics. “Carlow is fortunate to have so many students who represent Carlow so well both on and off their respective playing fields or courts.”
Sliman said that two of the sports featured in the commercials – golf and men’s soccer – will be offered by Carlow for the first time this fall. Men’s basketball will be starting their third season of play in 2016-2017, and women’s volleyball is the sport offered by Carlow for the longest time.
About Carlow University
Carlow is a private, co-educational, Catholic university located in the heart of Pittsburgh’s “Eds, Meds, and Tech” district. Founded by the Sisters of Mercy, Carlow’s graduates, curriculum, and partnerships reflect its strong commitment to social justice; ethical, forward-thinking and responsible leadership; and service to the community that has a meaningful impact. Undergraduate and graduate degrees are offered in three colleges: Health and Wellness, Leadership and Social Change, and Learning and Innovation. Carlow graduates are in demand for their professional expertise, in fields ranging from nursing, the sciences, and perfusion technology to counseling, education, and forensic accounting; their entrepreneurial spirit and creative mindset; and their ability to manage change. Carlow’s eleven athletic teams are known as the Celtics, a reflection of the university’s Irish heritage and roots.