Two students who entered pieces into a local design competition be advancing to the national level.

James Utley and Aaron Cavitt both won Gold ADDY Awards for their entries in the district level competition in January.

Utley’s “The Jordan Bell Travel Report” and Cavitt’s series of photos “Images of an Apocolypse” both are being sent to Austin for the national competition in June. Utley’s piece also won the Judges’ Special Award for outstanding use of an infographic.

“The Jordan Bell Travel Report” is a travel brochure based on Utley’s trips over the past year. It contains maps, charts and diagrams describing his experience.

“I think both entries have a chance to do really well,” said Mike Wiggins, Department Chair and Associate Professor of art and design.

“Utley’s is very intricate and complex conceptually. Cavitt’s photographs are also really good,” he said.

The ADDY Awards are sponsored by the American Advertising Federation and are the advertising industry’s largest and most representative competition, recognizing creative excellence and the very best advertising worldwide, according to AAF’s website. It is a worldwide competition that draws more than 60,000 total entries annually.

ACU had both art/design majors and the Department of Journalism and Mass Communication majors take part in the event.

“This competition is about us getting our name out there and for students to get a sense of how their works stack up versus other schools,” Wiggins said.

The different categories in the ADDY Awards include: illustration, mixed media campaign, logo design, magazine campaign and packaging design.

Wiggins said the judges grade the different pieces based on their professional opinions.

To reach the national competition, the two students first had to compete in the local Abilene AAF club chapter. Gold, silver and bronze awards were given to those students who entered, however only those receiving a Gold ADDY can advance to the district level ADDYs. Judges for the local level were brought in from Ft. Worth. ACU students, faculty and staff won 53 awards at the event.

At district, ACU students competed against other local chapters from Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana and Arkansas. Nine entries went on to win District ADDYs. The University of North Texas, Texas Christian University and Baylor University were some of the other Texas schools in attendance.

Sixteen judges will be present in Austin to grade the national entries. To qualify, students must have won a Gold ADDY at their districts.

“It’s gratifying to the students and the department to know we’re doing well against schools across Texas and the southwest,” Wiggins said.