A Mercer University Office of Marketing Communications team member was recognized for outstanding work in the Council for Advancement and Support of Education’s (CASE) 2026 Best of District III Awards.
The stories “Why place matters: Mercer creates spaces that inspire learning, build community” and “Project aims to balance fish population in Macon lake,” both written by Digital Content Specialist Andrea Honaker, BUS ’25, were each recognized with a Best of District III Award.
“Writing has always been my passion as well as my career focus, so being recognized by CASE for two of the stories I wrote last year is incredibly rewarding,” Honaker said. “I am grateful to work for an institution and a team that supports my passions and talents, and I am proud to have the opportunity to write stories that show why Mercer and its Mercerians are so special.”
This year, CASE received 288 nominations from District III, and Mercer is one of 71 institutions from District III to receive a Best of District honor.
“Andrea is a talented interviewer and storyteller. Her writing captures the heart of Mercer, brings attention to the meaningful work of faculty and students, and connects readers to the people and places that make the University unique,” said Jennifer Falk, director of digital communications and editor of The Den. “These two CASE awards are well-deserved, and Mercer is lucky to have her.”
The story “Why place matters: Mercer creates spaces that inspire learning, build community” highlights the University’s commitment to creating beautiful outdoor spaces on its campuses and the role they play in enhancing the overall environment and fostering community. It was recognized in the news/feature writing category for stories with over 1,000 words.
“The marketing communications office often showcases the amazing ways that our Mercerians are changing the world, but this article was a chance to highlight the University’s beautiful outdoor spaces and the important role they play in nurturing our Bears,” Honaker said. “Through intentional planning and a steady stream of enhancement projects, Mercer has created and maintained an environment that welcomes and inspires.”
The story “Project aims to balance fish population in Macon lake” highlights a multidisciplinary project involving researchers from Mercer and the community in which a research team installed 11 aquatic habitats to help balance the fish population in a Macon lake. It was recognized in the news/feature writing category for stories with fewer than 1,000 words.
“One of the best parts of writing stories for Mercer is having the chance to spread positive news, and that includes sharing the amazing work that our faculty and students are doing to make a difference locally,” Honaker said. “The multidisciplinary project featured in this story is an example of Mercer’s commitment to partnering with the community to solve problems and its dedication to exploring innovative, sustainable methods to do so.”
In 2025, Honaker’s story, “Mercer tackles global water crisis by bringing clean water to communities in need,” was honored with a CASE Best of District III Award in the research, medicine and science news writing category.
Her work was also recognized in 2021 when The Den’s Classroom Spotlight series received a silver award in the writing: series or collection category. The entry included five of Honaker’s stories for the series.
Honaker earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism from West Virigina University in 2006 and a Master of Business Administration from Mercer in December 2025. She came to the University in 2018 after spending a decade as a copy editor and reporter at newspapers in West Virginia, North Carolina and Georgia.
CASE is a nonprofit association dedicated to educational advancement that serves institutions around the world. Its Best of District III Awards recognizes extraordinary work among CASE District III members located in nine Southeast states.
