USF Athletics creative content teams recognized in 2024-25 CSC Creative and Digital Design Contest

TAMPA, Fla. (August 15, 2025) – The University of South Florida Athletics branding and content creation unit earned national recognition in the 2024-25 College Sports Communicators (CSC) Creative and Digital Design Contest. The awards were announced during the Special Awards Luncheon at the CSC annual convention, held earlier this summer at the Orlando World Center Marriott Resort.

USF earned 11 national honors across six categories, highlighted by a second-place finish in game day graphics for the men’s soccer Super Hero Night design and a fourth-place award in major awards and championship graphics for the football team’s Hawai’i Bowl victory graphic. The video team also placed sixth in the prestigious video of the year category for its feature on Barbara Riffe’s dual role supporting USF basketball, while multiple other projects earned recognition for creative storytelling, design impact and brand elevation.

USF’s 11 honors tied for the fifth-most among all schools in the University Division, ranking second among non–Power Four institutions and first among American Athletic Conference programs.

“These national recognitions are a true testament to the tireless work and commitment of so many individuals behind the scenes,” said Carl Schmid, associate athletic director for branding and digital strategy. “To be mentioned alongside some of the most prominent brands in college athletics speaks volumes about the strategic efforts our team has made to elevate the profile of our programs, student-athletes and the broader USF brand. Through innovative storytelling, creative content and consistent outreach across all platforms, our staff has played a critical role in positioning us on the national stage.”

The annual CSC contest highlights outstanding work by members in creative and digital design. This year’s competition drew 2,160 total entries across all divisions, including 930 entries in the University Division, in which USF competes.

A full list of USF’s recognized entries is included below, and complete contest results are available on the CSC website.

USF Basketball’s Heartbeat: Barbara Riffe’s Dual Role of Support and Advocacy

6th Place in Video of the Year

Staff Involved: Anthony Goden, Brandon Kowalak & Carl Schmid

Amir Abdur-Rahim Tribute

9th Place in Video of the Year

19th Place in Special Projects

Staff Involved: Brandon Kowalak, Carl Schmid and Merissa Lynn

Men’s Basketball at Wichita State Recap
5th Place in Long Form Videos / Recaps / Features
Staff Involved: Brandon Kowalak 

Men’s Basketball SoFlo Uniform Unveil
11th Place in Short Form Videos / Reels
Staff Involved: Brandon Kowalak

Men’s Soccer vs Temple Super Hero Night
2nd Place in Game Day Graphics
Staff Involved: Conner Greene

Baseball Rafael Betancourt Preseason All-Conference

6th Place in Individual Awards, Milestone & Record Graphics
Staff Involved: Conner Greene
 

Women’s Basketball Mama Dembele Stat Graphic

11th Place in Individual Awards, Milestone & Record Graphics
Staff Involved: Carl Schmid
 

Women’s Basketball Jose Fernandez 25th Anniversary

12th Place in Individual Awards, Milestone & Record Graphics
Staff Involved: Conner Greene
 

Football Hawai’i Bowl Champions

4th Place in Major Awards & Championship Graphics
Staff Involved: Conner Greene
 

Women’s Basketball American Athletic Conference Champions

11th Place in Major Awards & Championship Graphics
Staff Involved: Conner Greene

About USF Athletics

USF Athletics sponsors 21 varsity teams, with 20 competing at the NCAA Division I level in the American Conference, including the recent additions of women’s lacrosse and women’s beach volleyball. The Bulls’ athletic program, founded in 1965, will enter its 60^th season in 2025-26.

 

Nearly 500 student-athletes train and compete in the Tampa General Hospital Athletics District on the east end of USF’s Tampa campus. The Bulls have won 154 conference titles across 16 sports, with 82 men’s championships and 72 women’s championships. Men’s tennis and men’s soccer lead with 20 titles each, while women’s programs have been headlined by women’s tennis (14) and volleyball (13). Since joining the American in 2013, USF has secured 36 conference team titles. USF has also claimed 17 national championships, including three individual titles since 2023, in track and field.

 

Academically, USF student-athletes have achieved a program record of 21 consecutive semesters with a combined GPA of 3.0 or above as of spring 2025. Since 2015, more than 800 Bulls have earned their degrees.

 

Follow South Florida Athletics

For the latest updates from USF Athletics, visit GoUSFBulls.com. Follow USF Athletics on Facebook, Instagram, X, LinkedIn, and YouTube.

 

Get your tickets today!

Call 1-800-GO-BULLS (1-800-462-8557) or email BullsTickets@usf.edu to claim your season or single-game tickets. You can also download the USF Bulls app on the Android or Apple stores to purchase tickets and parking. Visit USFBullsTix.com for more information.

 

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