USM Design Students Triumph at ADDYs
Design students from the University of Southern Mississippi (USM) significantly distinguished themselves at the American Advertising Federation Mississippi Gulf Coast Awards, better known as the ADDYs.
This major advertising competition garners over 25,000 entries annually. Yet the USM students shone, showing off their impressive proficiency in various advertising aspects. Nay, they didn’t just participate; they collected numerous impressive awards to showcase back at the university.
Winning an ADDY is not only a significant achievement for a student’s portfolio but also a testament to the high-quality education offered at USM’s School of Performing and Visual Arts.
Proud Moment for USM
USM’s students received 6 Gold ADDYs, 9 Silver ADDYs, and 3 Judges choice awards, topped off by the highest honor, Best of Show. This noticeable success is a testament to the Art and Design faculty’s tremendous work at USM and paced USM’s name on high in the field of design and advertising.
Associate Professor of Design at USM, Jacob Cotton, indicates that these recognitions are proof of the high creativity and the exceptional quality of the students’ design work. The ADDY awards praise and verify the high level of skill USM students inherit in the design and innovation sector.
Standout Victory
Karson Gunn, a USM student, stood out amongst the winners. He walked away with eight ADDYs, including Best of Show and a Judge’s Choice award. Gunn’s accolade-winning design was the “Rumble Campaign,” an awareness poster series focusing on irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
Gunn credited his success to the hard work and innovative environment facilitated by his mentor, Professor John Mark Lawler, and to the unwavering support from his family.
Spotlight on Other Winners
Alexia Walley, another student from USM, bagged two ADDYs and a Judge’s Choice award for her trade journal titled “With the Band”. Likewise, Mae Stewart, a graphic design major, received a silver ADDY for her “Endangered” campaign designed to raise awareness about endangered animals.
Both Walley and Stewart expressed their gratitude towards the faculty for their continuous encouragement and guidance. Their trio was joined by students from the film and photography department, who also brought several awards back home.
