Marywood University’s Art Department encourages their students to strive for excellence, whatever their field of study. With luck, putting hard work and dedication into an artwork or design might just pay off in the end. That’s exactly what happened recently for a couple of Marywood University students and faculty members.

On February 24, 2015, in Scranton, PA, several Marywood graduates, undergraduates, and faculty received awards at the Northeast Pennsylvania American Advertising Federation competition, formerly known as the Addy Awards. The AAF of NEPA is one of the nation’s oldest national advertising trade associations. As their mission states on their website, “The American Advertising Federation protects and promotes the well-being of advertising. We accomplish this through a unique, nationally coordinated grassroots network of advertisers, agencies, media companies, local advertising clubs, and college chapters.” To learn more about the AAF of NEPA visit their website at: http://aafnepa.org

Each year, the American Advertising Awards are offered to students and working professionals across the nation. All submitted designs are sent to Albany, NY where award-winning designers judge them.

The competition is broken down into two categories: Gold and Silver. There is also category within the competition called Best of the Show, which is awarded to a designer who had the highest scoring piece among the judges. Marywood University is proud to acknowledge that Nailea Meneses, one of our graphic design students, was awarded Best of the Show for her Hunger in America poster, as shown here (center with fork) in a picture taken during the awards presentation.

Christine Medley, Assistant Professor of graphic design at Marywood said, “This is an impressive accomplishment – to have a student win at this level.” Christine Medley also won a Silver award for her own work in the Professional AAF Award competition.

Marywood student gold awards:

• Nailea Meneses, Graphic Design (senior) for her Hunger in America poster.
• Ashley Kujat Graphic Design (senior) for her Danger, Danger, Danger poster.

Both Nailea and Ashley’s work will go forward in the AAF District II competition. This district consists of New York, Pennsylvania, Delaware, and Maryland regions.

Marywood student silver awards:

• Ashley Kujat, Graphic Design (senior) for her Mantis illustration, Don’t Be Chicken poster.
• Patrick Mineo, Graphic Design (senior) for his The NSA is Watching You poster.
• Thomas Cunningham, Graphic Design (senior) for his Christianity Persecution poster.
• Nailea Meneses, Graphic Design (senior) for her honey packaging.
• Jessica Meoni, Graphic Design (MFA student) for her ADC Call for Entries collateral.

Professional Silver Award:

• Christine Medley for her Self promo historical letterpress poster.

Congratulations to everyone on this amazing opportunity and accomplishment!

Here are some photos that were taken at the event.

Danger, Danger, Danger poster by Ashley Kujat, gold winner.

Pat Mineo and Nailea Meneses

 

 

 

 

Desiree Zielinski, chair of the American Advertising Awards, hands Nailea Meneses her award.

Group photo: Back row left to right: John Meza (Associate Professor, Graphics Design), Christine Medley (Assistant Professor Graphic Design), Desiree Zielinksi (Marywood BFA Design, 2011, AAF Board member and Awards chair), Ashley Kujat (Graphic Design senior), Patrick Mineo (Graphic Design senior), Thomas Cunningham (Graphic Design senior). Front row left to right: Nailea Meneses (Graphic Design senior), Jessica Meoni (MFA Graphic Design student, BFA Design 2011), Samantha Nardelli (Marywood BFA Design 2012, AAF Board member).