Loyola University’s Ad Team Finishes Second in Regional Round of National Student Advertising Competition
Student Gabriela Santos Recognized as District’s Best Presenter
Loyola University’s Advertising Team placed second overall – and a Loyola student won the Best Presenter Award – at the regional level of the National Student Advertising Competition (NSAC) held earlier this month at the University of Tennessee.
The team’s second-place win is an outstanding accomplishment for a smaller team going up against some of the largest advertising programs in the South, said Aimee Alleman, Assistant Professor of Advertising and Chair of the Department of Mass Communication at Loyola.
Gabriela Santos, a senior from Puerto Rico, bested all presenters in District 7, which is comprised of collegiate chapters of the American Advertising Federation from Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia and Tennessee, and includes schools such as LSU, Ole Miss and the University of Alabama.
“We are extremely proud of Gabriela for her incredible, individual achievement and all the students on the team,” said Alleman, who along with Adjunct Professor Christy Rowley advised this year’s Ad Team. “Their hard work, professionalism and creativity were on full display throughout the competition. This is a major accomplishment for our program, and we’re thrilled to celebrate the team’s success.”
The Loyola Ad Team consisted of 14 students: Isabel Barattini, St. Rose, La.; Maria Del Pilar Chen Bucaro, Guatemala; Piper Demman, Omaha, Neb.; Kaliegh Dyson, Baton Rouge, La.; Phylis Gagliano, Metairie, La.; Emily Mazur, Panama City, Fla.; Carrie Adams Olsen, Houston; Ava Pivec, Baltimore; Margaret Powell, LaPlace, La.; Suhita Rachamallu, Baton Rouge, La.; Sophia Renzi, Baltimore; Gabriela Santos, Bayamon, Puerto Rico; Morgan Taylor, Houston; and, Xavier Tremblay, Oconomowoc, Wis.
The team created a campaign for the NFL, this year’s corporate sponsor and client, which provided a case study outlining the history of its product and current real-world marketing challenges. Students researched the product and its competition, identified potential problem areas and devised a completely integrated campaign for the NFL.
Each team then “pitched” its campaign to a panel of judges, who are professionals in the advertising, marketing and communications industries. The winning team from each district will advance to the semi-finals, where it will compete for one of eight spots at the finals.
The judges, one of whom is an NFL representative who works on the league’s communications team and is an NSAC alumna, were complimentary of the Loyola team’s campaign. The panel noted that it was a “clear, well-grounded strategic idea” and “beautiful presentation,” and that “the deck was really nice, well-written and easy to understand.”
“Placing second in the district against some of the largest and most established programs in the region underscores Loyola’s reputation as a standout school for advertising,” said Shaniece Bickham, director of the School of Communication and Design at Loyola. “This team’s success reflects not only their talent and dedication, but also the strength of our program in preparing students to compete – and excel – at the highest levels.”
Alleman said watching the students transform research and insight into a fully realized campaign is one of the most rewarding parts of teaching. She noted that this year’s second-place finish in District 7 was an especially meaningful, full-circle moment.
“Twenty-one years ago, Christy and I stood in Knoxville as students ourselves, competing at the district level with our Yahoo! campaign,” Alleman said. “To return to the same competition and now mentor students through the same process, from initial ideation and strategy development to final presentation, was incredibly special. Seeing their hard work, creativity and professionalism come to life on such a competitive stage is exactly why experiences like NSAC are so valuable."
About the College of Music and Media
The College of Music and Media is comprised of two schools — the School of Music and Theatre Professions and the School of Communication and Design. Students who choose to study in the college prepare for careers in music, theatre, music industry, graphic design, motion design, UX design, filmmaking, strategy, mass media and more.