Four Students win at the American Advertising Awards

The American Advertising Federation (AAF) in Dubuque held an ADDYs award event where a few Clarke Students and staff represented their hard work and the community. The ADDYs is an event held in many different areas of the nation, where applicants submit works of art and media from their own unique creativity and originality. Students who pass the application process, then receive an invitation to attend the ADDYs where winners are announced based off judge’s vote. Impressively, a portion of the Clarke student submissions won awards for their art and received accolades like scholarship money, a Gold ADDY, and Judges Choice rewards.

According to the organization, The AAF holds the ADDY awards for aspiring media and marketing creators in almost every state from coast to coast. The AAF is claiming to be the advertising production’s most significant competition. Entry numbers from participants reach to more than 25,000 every year. The organizational goal is dedicated to protecting and promoting the creativity of eccentric branding and visuals, and reward innovative individuals pursuing the expression of art.

The AAF is an annual event in Dubuque is only the first of a three-step national competition. Nationally, local applicants compete to achieve an ADDY award as the first step in the process. Then, the local ADDY winners from the first tier, advance to the second tier, where they compete against other winners from local clubs. If contestants pass the second tier, competing in only one of fifteen district competitions, they proceed to third tier which is the national level of the AAF. The choice of winners is decided by judges who critique all aspects of creativity by every applicant. A Gold ADDY is achievable by contestants and is the highest level of artistic efforts, followed by a Silver ADDY, which can be attainable by other entries deserving of recognition. The quality and value of work done by applicants determines the number of awards given in each category by judges.

The ADDY awards in Dubuque were held on Friday, February 28th, 2025, a 2-hour event with entertainment, food, and drinks. The organization held a cowboy/cowgirl theme for applicants who were invited to the event. The group of Clarke students present at the ADDY’s made strong impressions to judges and Clarke faculty. Addison Roberts, Alec dos Santos, Michael Pettke, Jacob Schemmel, Emma Grant, and Jessica Wagner represented the Clarke students at the event along with Clarke faculty Chrissy Bartels, Yvonne Zimmerman, Louise Kames, and Eric Wold.

Digital Collage by Michael Pettke

Students from the local Dubuque colleges proposed submissions like advertisements, poster designs, graphic designs, and other presentations related to advertising and branding. Submissions are judged in the student category as well as local design firms and agencies like Buzz Creative and McCullough creative, the event sponsors. Addison Roberts, a junior from Lena, IL, won the $1000 scholarship from McCullough and the AAF. In addition, Jess Wagner won a Gold ADDY award, and Michael Pettke and Alec dos Santos both won Judges Choice awards. The Clarke winners presented outstanding work and gained a great amount of experience through their participation. According to Michael Pettke, the event was a great opportunity to speak with professionals in the field of design and receive feedback from them about their work experience and environment. Overall, the Clarke winners and other entries represented the Clarke community proficiently and gave their best efforts at an event that is a true privilege.