Strategic Communication Awards Celebrate Excellence and Achievements
The Awards Recognize High Quality Work for Real-World Clients and Service to MU Campus
Columbia, Mo. (May 8, 2014) — It was a night of celebration as the Missouri School of Journalism recognized the work of students at the Strategic Communication Awards program.
The ceremony highlighted honors from the 2013-14 academic year, including those received from international advertising and public relations agencies, companies and other organizations, scholarship recipients and recognitions on the University of Missouri campus.
The strategic communication emphasis area includes advertising, public relations and consumer research. Students work for real clients for fees, and past clients include Hallmark, Walmart, Redbox, and numerous nonprofit organizations through student-staffed agencies AdZou and MOJO Ad.
“We’re delighted to recognize the outstanding work and accomplishments of strategic communication students,” said Margaret Duffy, faculty chair. “With the guidance of our faculty, students create campaigns that are smart, professional and research-based.”
Duffy added that Assistant Professor Jon Stemmle and his students in an events class planned and executed the program. They were Shaye Adams, Samantha Anderson, Hasani Henderson, Kelsey Hoffmann, Jordan Santo, Megan Schumacher, Mariel Seidman-Gati, Xiaoyi Wang, Paige Wheeler and Brooke Wiley.
Along with five judged categories, the Strategic Communication Awards ceremony also honored teams such as those in the Youth and Young Adult (YAYA™) and MOJO Ad capstones, those who were part of the National Student Advertising Competition and Mizzou 39. The judged categories were:
- Best Design and Copy Advertisement
- Best PR Feature
- Best AdZou Book Design
- Best AdZou Campaign Strategy
- Best AdZou Plan Book
Recent strategic communication graduates served as judges for the awards. They were:
- Caitlin Davis, BJ ’13, assistant account manager, FleishmanHillard Hong Kong.
- Natasha Desai, BJ ’12, music-talent assistant, PMK*BNC, Los Angeles.
- Nina Rayburn, BJ ’13, junior account manager, The Marketing Arm, Dallas.
- Audrey Raymond, BJ ’13, junior designer, Barkley in Kansas City.
- Dana Schuermann, BJ ’13, graphic designer, Natoli Engineering Company, St. Louis.
- Katherine Weider, BJ ’13, experiential coordinator, Moosylvania, St. Louis.
- Larry Powell, former assistant professor of strategic communication, most recently of Sanders Wingo in Dallas.
Recognitions received by Missouri Journalism strategic communication students during the year include the following:
- 2014 MU Inclusive Excellence Award in Diversity: Senior Bridget Botchway Bradley received this campus honor.
- American Academy of Advertising: Doctoral student Anna Kim won the Doctoral Dissertation Proposal Award, Best Conference Paper and a Graduate Student Travel Grant awards.
- American Advertising Federation-Kansas City: Five students selected to receive a $1,000 scholarship, paid membership to the foundation, free admission to all AAF-KC events, and a mentor who works in their field of study: Jamie Bland, Jazmin Burrell, Ebony Francis, Abigail Tingle and Anthony Tovar.
- Mizzou 39: Five seniors were recognized for their academic achievement, leadership and service to MU and the community: Mason Kerwick, Sapna Khatri, Dawn Schillinger, Chelsie Veasman and Kari Weis.
- Moosylvania Outside the Lines Scholarship: The focus of this award is to help build a creative home that fosters collaboration across all disciplines and open dialogue between all people. The recipient is Catalina Costa.
- National Student Advertising Competition, District 9: This year’s competition was a campaign for Mary Kay cosmetics. Missouri’s team placed 3rd overall. Team leaders were Caroline Bishop and Taylor Schumacher. Team members were Drew Grier, Devin Holland, Courtney Schier, Lani Tuitasi and Taylor Werthauser.
- National Student Advertising Competition District Adviser of the Year: Assistant Professor Stephanie Padgett received this honor.
- Paul Synor Creative Advertising Scholarship: Awarded by the School’s strategic communication area, two undergraduates receive $1,500 to help offset tuition costs: Emily Dayton and Anna Petrow.
- Tap Day. Six strategic communication students were inducted into three of the University of Missouri’s secret societies: Mortar Board, Omicron Delta Kappa and QEBH.
Best Design and Copy Advertisement
Finalists submitted one original advertisement that included both design and copywriting elements. Each element was looked at individually and as a whole.
- Winner: Patrick Ruppert for his ad for Kessler skis.
- Runners-Up:
- Ben Pfeiffer for his ad about the St. Louis Blues turning their quest for the Cup into a wanted poster.
- Taylor Soldner for her Swatch watch ad “Not the face you were expecting.”
Best PR Feature
Submissions were judged on an original feature story that was written for the Public Relations Writing class. Submissions were judged on the organization, angle and flow of the story as well as the style.
- Winner: Shaye Adams for “Journalism Skills Create a Platform for Success for Political Office Seekers”
- Judges’ Comments: The organization of this story ranks as one of the best in the group of finalists, and the visual lead was by far my favorite – it really captured the moment and made me feel like I was there. The lead and angle was clearly stated both in the beginning and conclusion of the story, and each graduate’s story was told clearly and succinctly.”
- Runners-Up:
- Kelsey Hoffman for “Profile in Success: Bill Tammeus, BJ ’67”
- Judges’ Comments: The quotes in this story were utilized extremely well. The writing was extremely crisp and clear, with a great “zing” to the way the writer used phrases and sentences to make their point. Just an awesome job showing readers how great (Tammeus) was at his craft in a succinct way!
- Kara Kostal for “Dedication to Finding the Unexpected Story and Maintaining Credibility Help Alum Thrive as a Major League Baseball Reporter”
- Judges’ Comments: I really loved this writer’s ability to pick up on small nuggets from the interview she did and incorporate them into her story; the “zig not zag” was not only a great quote to use, but I loved that the writer incorporated it further in the story when talking about the reporter’s decision to go to Joplin for a story. It made for such great continuity and took advantage of what was a really great quote to enhance the story and point even further.
- Kelsey Hoffman for “Profile in Success: Bill Tammeus, BJ ’67”
YAYA Connection
YAYA (Youth and Young Adult) Connection students create and promote digital content to generate buzz around the importance of targeting young adults in advertising campaigns. The entries were judged on their success by measuring the total page views generated for each blog post. The students who had the highest readership of their content were:
- Fall 2013
- Maggie Forsee: “3 Ways Millennials Are Changing the Workplace”
- Dawn Schillinger: “5 Ways Millennials Use Snapchat”
- Spring 2014
- Cathy Ann Baker: “Michael Sam: What Does Gay Have to Do with Football?”
- Lyndsey Garza: “3 Reasons Why the YAYA Market Seeks Anonymity”
MOJO Ad
Walmart was the MOJO Ad client for the fall 2013 semester. Master’s students Kathryn Jankowski and Courtney Ledo served as graduate assistants.
- Winners
- Fall 2013: Team Spectra. Members were Charlie Field, Lyndsey Garza, Jimmy Hibsch, Lisa Kossover, Katie Moore, Claire Taylor, Jordan Tieman, Chelsie Veasman, Danielle Yuede, Andrada Zabava.
- Spring 2014: Team Ethos. Members were Joy Han, Nick Batt, Charley Field, Paula Ottoni-Candido, Kara Perconti, Katie Roach, Josie Stadler, Lauren Steffens, Chelsie Veasman, Danielle Yuede.
Best AdZou Book Design
Teams submitted the plan book they worked on during the spring AdZou class. This category analyzed all design elements of the submission from the layout to the typography.
- Winner: Missouri Department of Natural Resources. Team members were Marissa Asfour, Cosette Dwyer, Crystal Friedman, Ashley Hartman, Kerri Williams and Matt Yager.
- Runners Up
- Columbia Biotech/Skinue. Team members were Anthony Barranco, Sarah D’Amico, Rachel Gleason, Katherine Lally, Mike Rose and Kari Weis.
- Fresh Ideas – In the Loop. Team members were Shaye Adams, Samantha Anderson, Bridget Botchway Bradley, Frank Catanzaro, Brienna LaCoste and Elise Sonnenberg.
- MU Office of Economic Development – Team Aces. Michelle Bedker, Molly Hildreth, Sammie Hill, Jenna Lewis, Erin Mihanovic and Megan Scott.
Best AdZou Strategy
Teams submitted the plan book they worked on during the spring AdZou class. This category analyzed the book in the area of campaign research and strategy.
- Winner: Columbia Biotech/Skinue. Team members were Anthony Barranco, Sarah D’Amico, Rachel Gleason, Katherine Lally, Mike Rose and Kari Weis.
- Runners Up
- Fresh Ideas – Hujambo. Team members were Cody Cutter, Khalah Morris, Brooke Simmons, Mariel Seidman-Gati and Mary Tiernan.
- Missouri School of Law. Team members were Tuva Aasen, Lauren Flaker, Arthur Fykes III, Jacob Klinghammer, Becky Langhorst and Amber Zhong.
Best AdZou Plan Book
This category awards the best overall AdZou plan book produced during the spring. Every element of the plan book – from the research to the creative brief to the budget – was considered in the judging.
- Winner: Missouri Department of Natural Resources. Team members were Marissa Asfour, Cosette Dwyer, Crystal Friedman, Ashley Hartman, Kerri Williams and Matt Yager.
- Runners Up
- Fresh Ideas – Hujambo. Team members were Cody Cutter, Khalah Morris, Brooke Simmons, Mariel Seidman-Gati and Mary Tiernan.
- Missouri School of Law. Team members were Tuva Aasen, Lauren Flaker, Arthur Fykes III, Jacob Klinghammer, Becky Langhorst and Amber Zhong.
Updated: July 24, 2020