Three Wichita State University Shocker Ad Lab teams received state and national honors recently during the National Federation of Press Women (NFPW) Communications Contest recognition ceremony in Fargo, North Dakota.
The teams won for an advertising campaign and public relations work completed and published during the spring and fall 2021 semesters. Shocker Ad Lab is a student advertising agency offered as a class in WSU’s Elliott School of Communication.
All entries were published or broadcast between Jan. 1, 2021, and Dec. 31, 2021. NFPW is a nationwide organization of women and men pursuing careers across the communication spectrum, including print and electronic journalism, freelancing, new media, books, public relations, marketing, graphic design, photography, advertising, radio and television.
Professional communicators from across the United States — including 13 WSU students — were honored. The Shocker Ad Lab creative work was entered in the Kansas contest, conducted by the Kansas Professional Communicators (KPC) by Shocker Ad Lab faculty creative director Madeline McCullough, a member of KPC and NFPW. After winning first place in Kansas, both campaigns went on to compete at the national contest in Fargo.
During the competition, a distinguished group of professional journalists, communication specialists and educators judged nearly 2,000 entries in a variety of categories from 39 states. Only first-place winning entries at the state level are eligible to enter the national contest. WSU was honored for the following:
NFPW “Honorable Mention – Advertising Campaign” for “Off the Grid with Gridiron”
Promoting the 2021 Wichita Gridiron variety show and fundraiser — a comedy show staged annually in support of the Kansas Pro Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists’ scholarship fund. The campaign promoted in-person ticket sales, online ticket sales and donations in support of the scholarship fund, which benefits journalism students across Kansas.
Spring 2021 Shocker Ad Lab staff being recognized:
Anita Chokbengboun – Team co-leader, strategist and chief copywriter
David Diaz – Team co-leader and chief designer
Raquel Diaz – Video producer
Trey Greening – Copywriter
Joey Nichols – Broadcast and production coordinator
Madeline McCullough – Faculty creative director
NFPW “Honorable Mention – Public Relations Campaign” for “Valley Center Vietnam Moving Wall”
Promoting the “Valley Center Vietnam Moving Wall,” a half-size replica of the Washington, D.C. Vietnam Veterans Memorial as it toured the United States, making a stop in October, 2021 in Valley Center, Kansas. Visitors totaled 7,120.
Spring 2021 Shocker Ad Lab staff being recognized:
Melissa Tran – Team leader and copywriter
Dawsyn Long – Art director (WSU Undergraduate Admissions marketing coordinator)
Lori Froehlich – Strategy, research, military consultant recently retired from the Air Force
Jessica Oldenettel – Social media, historic research and copywriter
Spencer Hynes – Team support, research assistant
Fall 2021 Shocker Ad Lab staff being recognized:
Theresa Tran – Art director (Elliot School of communication temp)
Jeannie Qualls – Art director (Career Development multimedia coordinator)
Mariah Relph – Writer
Madeline McCullough – Faculty creative director