“Can’t wait to see where you go:” A father’s voicemail anchors new UNI commercial

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa - "We're so, so proud of you. Can't wait to see where you go."

Those words close a father's voicemail to his college-aged student in the University of Northern Iowa's new 30-second commercial, which will begin airing soon on Iowa television stations and streaming platforms such as Hulu and YouTube.

Featuring real UNI students and campus experiences, the commercial pairs a parent's encouragement with moments of anticipation and preparation: arriving on campus, heading to class, studying for a big test, preparing for a presentation or job interview, or the next big game. Footage filmed during a UNI Study Abroad trip to Italy takes the journey well beyond campus.

Recently named the No. 1 public university in the Midwest by U.S. News & World Report, UNI prepares students for their next steps through signature programs in business and education, along with growing opportunities in nursing, health and engineering.

The commercial was produced in collaboration with Good Era Film, led by UNI alumni Aaron Van Maanen and Neal Johnson. UNI multimedia coordinator Sean O'Neal helped create the concept and direct filming, as well as compose the original soundtrack for the finished spot.

In case you miss it on television or streaming platforms, viewers can watch the commercial anytime on UNI's YouTube channel.

UNI is accepting applications for the upcoming academic year and welcomes prospective students and their families to experience campus first hand. Take on your next adventure at UNI and schedule a campus visit on the UNI website, www.uni.edu.