NDSU advertising students received the Olson Award for outstanding social media campaign at the District 8 National Student Advertising Competition. The University of Minnesota hosted the event April 12-13.
Each year, a corporate sponsor provides a case study outlining the history of its product and current advertising situation. This year’s sponsored was Glidden Paint. The real world situation challenges students' critical thinking abilities and creativity. Students must research the product and its competition, identify potential problems and develop an integrated communication campaign for the client. Each student team “pitches” its campaign to a panel of judges. The NDSU students presented “Connect Life Through Color.”
Participating NDSU students included Maison Davis, Eagan, Minn.; David William Denne, St. Cloud, Minn.; Elizabeth Ann Branson, Dickinson, N.D.; Josephine Breen, Evan Kjos and Myah Inskeep, Fargo; Damir Kolakovic, West Fargo; Tyler Dutenhoeffer, Aberdeen, S.D.; Chantae Busse, Appleton, Minn.; Evan Oby, Bismarck, N.D.; Neal Dittrich, Champlin, Minn.; Jordan Rae Stiefel, Marshall, Minn.; Amanda Lyn Ellingson, Spicer, Minn.; Shelby Deckert, Rugby, N.D.; Jordan Nelson, Hebron, N.D.; Chad Jack Willson, Layton, Utah; Un Chae Chung, Seoul, Korea; and Jae Eun Lee, South Korea.
The students are taught and advised by Elizabeth Crawford, assistant professor of communication, and Julie Fudge, advertising club assistant coordinator and lecturer in the Department of Communication.
“I am very proud of my advertising students' hard work and dedication,” said Crawford. “They did an excellent job presenting at the competition in spite of traveling all night on the train because of two major snow storms affecting the area. Winning the Olson Award for best integration of social media is an honor and we are thankful.”
For information on the competition, which is sponsored by the American Advertising Federation, visit www.aaf.org/default.asp?id=123.
NDSU is recognized as one of the nation's top 108 public and private universities by the Carnegie Commission on Higher Education.