Seven of Radford’s graphic design majors racked up a total of 11 wins in the student categories of the Western Virginia Advertising Awards, or “the Addys,” held at the Hotel Roanoke and Conference Center on March 2. Pictured (L to R): Brittiany Rorrer, Ahna Huff, Jenna Repass, Wendy Marshall and Radford University Professor of Graphic Design Ken Smith.
Seven of Radford’s graphic design majors racked up a total of 11 wins in the student categories of the Western Virginia Advertising Awards, or “the Addys,” held at the Hotel Roanoke and Conference Center March 2.
Sponsored by the American Advertising Federation (AFF) Roanoke chapter, the competition recognizes advertising excellence and creativity across the full spectrum of media platforms.
Students had to create packaging, logos, labels, branding and other forms of physical advertising and 3-D designs for products of their choosing, or for Lipton tea and Burpee Seeds and Plants, or Kilt Gilt Scottish Ale, a fictional beer that remains a design staple for Radford.
Radford’s winners were:
Senior Brittiany Rorrer – Student Gold (Burpee) and two Student Silvers (Selu Farm branding logos; a 2024 calendar)
Cade Carter ’23 – Student Gold (Lady Gaga artRave concert poster) and Student Silver (RU BFA Graphic Design show poster)
Senior Kiera Adens – Two Student Silvers (Lipton, Kilt Gilt)
Senior Ahna Huff – Student Silver (Lipton)
Junior Jenna Repass – Student Silver (Cactus Club food truck design)
Junior McKinna Huffman – Student Silver (Juno & Co. dog treats)
Sophomore Wendy Marshall – Student Silver (Graphic Art Exhibition poster)
This year’s competition included 67 student submissions, with entries from George Mason, James Madison and Liberty universities as well as Virginia Tech.
Radford’s 11 wins gave it the highest total for participating colleges and universities.
“We certainly don’t judge the quality of our program or the quality of our students by winning awards,” said Professor of Graphic Design Ken Smith.
“But it’s good for them to know they’re being judged in some fashion against their peers, not just at Radford but regionally. And when they do well, when they win anything, that’s a positive reflection on both them and our program.”
Brittiany Rorrer, who netted three awards this year, called the experience of going to the Addys “amazing.”
“You do all this work, all these projects over weeks and months and maybe even a year or so, and when you get to go to the Addys, you get to meet people in your field from Southwest Virginia, and you get to go up onstage … it’s the perfect accolade,” Rorrer said.
The students who took gold and silver award wins are now eligible to compete at the District 3 level later this month. If selected there, they will advance to the national tier of the competition.
The judges also considered 134 professional entries from agencies and firms, and Highlanders had a strong presence in that section as well.
This year’s winners included David Hodge ’83, with Anstey-Hodge, and Peggy Underwood ’88, with Pratt Industries.
Michael Goodson ’15, working with intern and Radford student winner Jenna Repass to create Virginia Tech Dining Services’ Chili Challenge 2023 package, received this year’s Howard Packett Award for Creative Excellence, which is the AFF Roanoke’s Best in Show prize. That campaign also won a gold Addy.
“It is immensely beneficial for our current students to witness alumni from our program achieving success in various career roles, whether as founders of agencies or as managers and directors of corporate design departments,” Radford Assistant Professor of Graphic Design John O’Connor said after the event.
“Attending the ADDY awards ceremony allows student winners to interact with these accomplished professionals, fostering valuable networking opportunities that often lead to job placements and internships.”
Neil Harvey for Radford University
