Student Advertising Team wins first place in district

Liberty University’s Advertising Team took first place in the 2017 District 3 National Student Advertising Competition, hosted by the American Advertising Federation, on Friday in Cary, N.C.

Liberty outscored teams from the University of Virginia, the University of North Carolina, and James Madison University, improving upon last year’s third-place finish.

“Our strategic communication students have worked hard in this marketing competition, and with great dedication,” said Digital Media & Communication Arts Professor Dr. Stuart Schwartz, the team’s faculty advisor. “They are a talented bunch, and their first-place finish puts us right up there with the top schools in the nation.”

Senior Katie Clinebell, who is double-majoring in journalism and advertising & public relations (now strategic communication), said the accomplishment was “a testament to God’s faithfulness.”

“First or last we would have praised Him just as much, but seeing the way He equipped us to be excellent was such a humbling experience,” she said, noting this was her second year on the team. “Each year the team has consistently sought to improve upon the last year. Seeing the years of preparation that went into securing first place was surreal. I was so proud of the team in that moment. I felt so honored, humbled, and thankful to have worked with a team that loved each other and sought to honor God above all else.”

Liberty’s team includes seniors Joshua Aultice, Rachel Carson, Alexis Chapman, Natalie Dallenbach, Allison Dinges, James Ford, Lauren Frye, Megan Ganovski, Haley Holmlund, Robert Keating, April Klooster, Reid Koutstaal, Joel Miller, Caitlyn Richard, Rachel Shover, Elizabeth Skeele, Sierra Tilley, Noah Vandermark, and Rachel Veneris, and juniors Nikki Acosta, Kendra Dowdy, and Hannah Hock.

The competition evaluates teams on both an in-person presentation and a plans book, submitted ahead of time. The teams developed a fully integrated marketing campaign for Tai Pei Frozen foods, targeted at millennials. Judges critique the overall campaign strategy, as well as the design, research, budgeting, and content of the plans book and the professionalism and communication skills of the presenters.

“There is no more valuable experience as a communication student at Liberty than the Ad Team,” Clinebell said. “It allows you to create a real campaign for an actual client, develops integral teamwork skills, and helps you achieve critical problem solving abilities. It prepares you for the real world and equips you with tangible experience that you can reference when you’re ready to enter the industry.”

With the district crown secure, Liberty will now advance to the semifinals, which will be held virtually May 4-5. The top eight teams will compete at nationals in New Orleans June 7-8.