UNL advertising, PR students 9th in national competition

            Advertising and public relations students from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln College of Journalism and Mass Communications finished ninth in the 2013 National Student Advertising Competition, June 5-8, in Phoenix. UNL has finished in the top 10 five years in a row.

            More than 150 colleges and universities participated in the contest sponsored by the American Advertising Federation. UNL was one of 18 schools from 15 districts to advance to nationals.

            The competition challenges students with real-world case studies and asks them to research a product, identify competitors and build an integrated communications campaign for a corporate client. Companies such as Coca-Cola, State Farm, JCPenney, Yahoo and Nissan have implemented advertising created by the students during previous contests.

            Glidden Paint at Walmart asked students to create a $10 million, five-month campaign based on research of its product and its competition. The challenge was to raise awareness, consideration and purchase of Glidden paint among female do-it-yourself Walmart shoppers who buy paint.

            UNL has finished first in district competition for the past five years and won the national title in 2012. Professionals in the communications industry conduct judging during the district competition. Judges at the national level are selected from the client and their advertising agencies.

            The UNL team members by hometown and the role they played are as follows:

NEBRASKA

            Bellevue: Meg Brannen, copywriter.

            Gretna: Jennifer Gotrik, art director.

            Lincoln: Matthew Anderson, co-creative director; Mitchell Benes, co-creative director; Toan Chu, film/photography; Griffin Gale, copywriter; Katie Hottovy, art director/interactive designer; Grant Weber, copywriter.

            Omaha: Devin McDermott, copywriter; Matt Wengert, art director.

            Oshkosh: Geremy Gortemaker, art director.

            Scribner: Derek Niewohner, media director.

            South Sioux City: Rachel Leitschuck, account planner/research director/public relations.

            Verdon: Devin Specht, production.

ELSEWHERE

            Arlington, Texas: Jordan Oddo, account planner/public relations.

            Buffalo Grove, Ill.: Adam Kroft, account planner/project manager/public relations.

            Hensley, Ark.: Cody Elmore, account supervisor.

            Rapid City, S.D.: Brittany Rypkema, account planner/project manager/public relations.

            The American Advertising Federation is the nation's oldest national advertising trade association and the only association representing all facets of the advertising industry. AAF is headquartered in Washington, D.C., and acts as the "unifying voice for advertising." The AAF also has 15 district operations, each located in and representing a different region of the nation. The AAF's membership is comprised of nearly 100 blue chip corporate members comprising the nation's leading advertisers, advertising agencies, and media companies; a national network of nearly 200 local federations, representing 40,000 advertising professionals, located in ad communities across the country; and with more than 6,500 student members.

Writer: Marilyn Hahn