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Registration and call for proposals are open!

Nominations due: February 27, 2026

The First Annual MXB Awards (The “Maizeys”)

Celebrating U-M Marketing & Communications Excellence

The MXB Awards—the “Maizeys”—are the University of Michigan’s newest recognition program, spotlighting the most creative, impactful, and innovative marketing and communications work across all U-M units. Whether you excel in digital, print, visual, written, or branding projects, we want to see how you help make Michigan leaders and best.

This year, the awards ceremony will close out the first day of the Maize X Blue Summit as a celebratory event, bringing us together to enjoy the best work being done across campus, cheer for our colleagues, and participate in a live People’s Choice Award vote!

Three people sit in auditorium seats; one is holding a smartphone and taking a photo.

How do the awards work?

  • Anyone at U-M can submit a nomination
  • Submissions may be individual or team-based
  • Work must have been completed/published/live during the 2025 calendar year
  • The awards subcommittee will review all nominations
  • Finalists and winners will be selected by an outside panel of judges
  • Finalists can also opt to have their submission voted on live by summit attendees for a People’s Choice Award

Submit a nomination

Ready to nominate a project? Just fill out the submission form and upload the requested files to represent your work. Groups and individuals may submit multiple projects.

A large group of people sitting in rows at an event, applauding enthusiastically.

Key Dates

Plan ahead so you're ready to nominate—and ready to celebrate at the Summit.

  • January 28

    Official call for nominations

  • February 27

    Nominations close

  • May 28

    Winners announced

2026 award categories

Submissions can be entered in any of the following categories: 

Digital

Emails and newsletters, websites and pages, digital ads, or social media.

Print

Magazines, advertisements, annual reports, brochures, or other print materials.

Visuals

Photography or video (short-form or long-form).

Audio/Sound

Podcasts or audio features.

Written Materials

Press releases, news and feature articles, or profiles.

Campaigns

Recruitment, promotion, or branding.

Thanks to our sponsor

A special thank you to Proforma Image & Design for sponsoring the MXB Maizey Awards and supporting excellence in U-M communications!

Proforma Image & Design logo