Contact: Christie McNeal

STARKVILLE, Miss.—Nine students and a longtime professor in Mississippi State’s Department of Art recently were honored with awards from the Tuscaloosa American Advertising Federation.

Formerly the ADDYs, the American Advertising Awards recognize creativity and excellence in advertising.

The art students completed their entries in Assistant Professor Claire Gipson’s fall 2018 advertising course.

“I was astonished by the number of Mississippi State winners this year,” she said. “Our students won 12 of the 26 total student awards given out by the Tuscaloosa chapter. It proves that the MSU Department of Art has a strong graphic design program, and our talented students should be very proud of the work they’re producing here.” 

AAF Tuscaloosa is one of 210 member clubs across the nation; local AAA gold winners will advance to 14 regional competitions, and those winners proceed to the national finals.

Student 2019 American Advertising Federation Tuscaloosa AAA winners include (by hometown):

CLINTON—Gerald Wicks, fall 2018 graduate, Gold Award, Cross Platform category and Judge’s Choice Award, “Tropicana: Your Body’s Savior” campaign; also a Silver Award, Print Advertising category and Judge’s Choice Award with teammate Demarques Nevels for “Maruchan Ramen Through Time” campaign.

GULFPORT—Connor Booth, fall 2018 graduate, with teammates April Porter and Joanna Bauer, Gold Award, Cross Platform category, “Celebrate the Small Victories—B&J” campaign.

MADISON—Meredith Morris, fall 2018 graduate, Gold Award, Print Advertising category, “Post-It Notes” campaign.

MEMPHIS, Tennessee—April Porter, fall 2018 graduate, with teammates Conner Booth and Joanna Bauer, Gold Award, Cross Platform category, “Celebrate the Small Victories—B&J” campaign; also a Silver Award, Print Advertising category, “Logic Ink—Know When You’re Done” campaign.

MEMPHIS, Tennessee—Parker Webb, fall 2018 graduate, Silver Award, Cross Platform category, “L.L. Bean” campaign. 

OLIVE BRANCH—Senior Demarques Nevels, with teammate Gerald Wicks, Silver Award, Print Advertising category and Judge’s Choice Award, “Maruchan Ramen Through Time” campaign.

PASCAGOULA—Senior Carly Bond, Silver Award, Cross Platform category, “Openbook Social Media” campaign. 

RIDGELAND—Senior Mary Emily Moore, Gold Award, Print Advertising category, “Dr. Martens” campaign. 

STARKVILLE—Senior Joanna Bauer, with teammates April Porter and Conner Booth, Gold Award, Cross Platform category, “Celebrate the Small Victories—B&J” campaign; also two Silver Awards, Cross Platform category, “Squatty Potty—Some Things Change” and “Tidy Cats—For Responsible Cats” campaigns.

MSU Professor and Graphic Design Coordinator Jamie Burwell Mixon also was honored in the competition’s professional category. She received gold awards for her work on Verizon Arena’s Katy Perry and Avenged Sevenfold concert posters.

Part of the College of Architecture, Art and Design, MSU’s Department of Art is the longtime home of the state’s largest undergraduate studio art program. For more, visit www.caad.msstate.edu.

MSU is Mississippi’s leading university, available online at www.msstate.edu.