ADDY Award-winners from the Digital Media Department at East Tennessee State University.

Students, recent grads earn accolades from advertising federation

JOHNSON CITY - Students and recent graduates of East Tennessee State University were recognized by the American Advertising Federation Northeast Tennessee during its annual “ADDY” awards ceremony.

Clayton Walker, a senior, and Zachary VanHoy, a December 2017 graduate, won gold for cinematography and animation/visual effects, as well as best of show, student division, for their “Mindbender” opening credits sequence. Walker and VanHoy also snagged gold in the cinematography category for their “Kia Pet Friendly” television spot.

Brianna Edmonds, a senior, won gold and a judge’s choice award for her photo-illustration “King Kat.” Kaycee Warren, a senior, won gold in digitally enhanced photography for her actor transformation concept art “Werewolf,” and silver in the same category for her “Rocker Mom” actor transformation. Julie Woodburn, a May 2017 graduate, received gold for animation/visual effects, and a judge’s choice award for her “Love Your Corners” animation.

Senior graphic design majors Olivia Ellis and Brynne Carlisle each received ADDYs in the single illustration category. Ellis was presented gold for “Bargello Ladies,” while Carlisle received silver for “Bad Taste” as well as a judge’s choice award for “Don’t Fix Me, I’m Not Broken.”

Jimmy Stewart, a graphic design major and Richard Brown, a studio art major, each accepted gold ADDYs for their packaging projects “Fox & Robin package design” and “Social/Political Packaging,” respectively. “Lunch” by digital media major Alex Street and “Doodle Brew” by graphic design student Bailey Eshbach acquired silver awards in the packaging category.

Meyer McMains, a May 2017 graduate, won silver in the black-and-white photography category for “Ya’ll Though You Could Keep Me Out,” and junior David Hamilton earned a silver award for digitally enhanced photography “Tortoise and the Harecut.” Jennifer Thayer, a May 2017 graduate, also took home a silver ADDY for “Bear Witness,” in the single occurrence or installation category.

A silver ADDY in the invitation series was presented to Alice Salyer, a graduate student, and Kelly Porter, an assistant professor of graphic design in ETSU’s Department of Art and Design, for their work on the Artful Aging workshops by the Johnson City Public Library.

During the annual ADDY awards ceremony, the AAF Northeast Tennessee board presented a $500 scholarship and a one-year AAF membership to Shawn Quilliams, a graphic design major and advertising/PR minor. The scholarship was created to support and encourage students to enter the field of advertising and is available to college students majoring in an advertising-related discipline such as marketing, advertising, public relations, communication, graphic design, digital media, and other related areas of study.

The American Advertising Awards is the advertising industry's largest and most representative competition, attracting over 40,000 entries every year in local AAF Club competitions. Conducted annually by the American Advertising Federation, the local Ad Club phase is the first of a three-tier, national competition. Entries receiving a gold ADDY will go on to compete in the regional competition April 20 in Cary, North Carolina.