More than 50 advertising and design students and groups from ACU took home awards from the 2012 ADDYs Banquet Thursday. The local level of the national advertising competition featured winners from three universities and other organizations and groups in and around Abilene.
The American Advertising Federation coordinates the annual awards ceremonies that starts on the local level and winners move up to the district and national levels.
Mike Wiggins, chair of the Department of Art and Design, said the 53 awards won by ACU-affiliated groups, students and faculty indicate how well the participants are doing based on outside evaluation.
“We do this so people outside our area look at our work and decide if it’s good or bad,” Wiggins said. “It’s a matter of understanding how we are doing.”
Wiggins said participating in the competition and doing well improves the university’s name in the field.
“This put our name out in front of judges from major design firms in other markets who can give our students jobs,” he said. “It looks good for all of our students, not just the ones who enter and do well, because if employers in the field see a resume from an ACU alum, they’ll have a good impression.”
Preston Watkins, senior advertising and public relations major from Manassas, Virg., won a Student Bronze Addy for his print advertisement for Haagen Dazs, called “Haagen-Does.” Watkins said he was excited to win an award in his first entry into the competition.
“I feel honored to have received the award and to have created something my professor thought was worth of entering,” Watkins said. “Now I’m looking forward to getting into the field because I could be a part of a team that could enter into the competition later on.”
Wiggins said the gold award winners will be entered into the next level of competitions.
“We don’t just want to win at a local level but to compete at the next level,” Wiggins said. “Gold winners are entered into district level competitions for free, so it’s also a cost-effective way to compete there.”
