Strategic Communication News Releases Awards

Missouri Students Earn a Top 3 Win in District 9 National Student Advertising Competition

Assistant Professor Stephanie Padgett Named Faculty Advisor of the Year for Efforts to Improve the Overall Contest

Columbia, Mo. (May 20, 2014) — “Make It Happen,” a marketing campaign developed by Missouri School of Journalism students, captured third place in the District 9 National Student Advertising Competition during the April 11 event in Kansas City, Mo. The American Advertising Federation sponsors the annual challenge.

Mizzou NSAC Team
The Mizzou NSAC team poses for a group photo after the presentation. Back row from left: Kyle Fitzpatrick, Devin Holland, Drew Grier, Lani Tuitasi, Taylor Werthauser. Front row from left: Caroline Bishop, Stephanie Padgett, Courtney Schier, Taylor Schumacher.

In addition, Stephanie Padgett, Mizzou NSAC advisor and assistant professor at the School, received the Faculty Advisor of the Year award for her efforts to improve the national contest for all students and better engage agencies in the NSAC competition.

The 2013-14 client was Mary Kay Inc., a top beauty brand and direct seller with more than 200 premium products sold by more than 3 million Mary Kay Independent Beauty Consultants in more than 35 countries around the world. Global annual wholesale sales are about $3 billion. Mary Kay is developing new product lines geared toward the college-age woman. The company used the sponsorship to engage the demographic in the development of strategies and creative ideas to market to their own age group.

The NSAC requires AAF college chapter members to develop a 26-page marketing campaign and a 20-minute presentation in response to the real-world case study co-authored by the Mary Kay marketing team and the AAF Academic Division.

The Mizzou NSAC campaign aimed to empower women ages 18-25 to make their dreams a reality. The student-led team spent much of the academic year developing a fully integrated campaign. This included conducting primary and secondary research, developing strategy and creating an implementation plan. The Mizzou NSAC team and others in the district then pitched their plan to a panel of judges that include client representatives and industry professionals.

“It was exciting to see their hard work recognized,” Padgett said. “Our team was led by two outstanding seniors and included sophomore and junior presenters.”

Students who participated in the Mizzou NSAC campaign included: Caroline Bishop, Kyle Fitzpatrick, Drew Grier, Devin Holland, Courtney Schier, Taylor Schumacher, Lani Tuitasi and Taylor Werthauser.

The AAF is the nation’s oldest national advertising trade association and the only association representing all facets of the advertising industry. It is headquartered in Washington, D.C., and acts as the “Unifying Voice for Advertising.”

Updated: July 27, 2020

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