RIT students sweep local advertising awards

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David Nardone

ADDY award-winning work designed for the Museum of Magic by RIT graphic designer David Nardone. The piece also earned Nardone a scholarship.

RIT students won all 11 student awards, and two scholarships at the 2009 ADDY awards hosted by the Rochester Advertising Federation. The annual competition allows professionals and students in the Rochester area to submit advertising work and compete for scholarships and awards.

All of the student winners are from RIT’s College of Imaging Arts and Sciences and include graphic designers, photographers, illustrators and copywriters. Broken into two categories, the ADDY awards are given to the best pieces in the show and Laddy awards are presented as certificates of merit. This year’s student ADDY award winners are David Nardone, fourth-year graphic design major; Kimberly Murtagh, fourth-year advertising photography major; Carolyn Jorgensen, fourth-year advertising photography major; Josiah Castillo, third-year advertising photography major; Susan Sobota, fourth-year graphic design major; Joanna Eberts, third-year illustration major; and Maegan Gindi, fourth-year advertising photography major. Both Sobota and Nardone were also granted scholarships.

The winning ad layouts covered a variety of topics and companies including Juicy Couture, Etsy, EPA, Gap, SAAB, Dyson and even Harry Houdini. Nardone, an ADDY winner and scholarship recipient for his work on Houdini, says, “It was an honor for me just to be displayed on the wall at the event with the hopes of being recognized by the professionals in our area.”

RIT students traditionally enjoy a strong showing at the ADDY Awards, but organizers say this year’s sweep is particularly impressive.

“The Rochester Advertising Federation is delighted by the interest RIT students have shown in our organization. They are the future of our industry,” says Kate Sonnick, president of the federation. Some of the ad submissions included teams of student collaborators. The RAF awarded eight Laddy honors.

Robert Luessen, a third-year advertising photography major and Laddy winner, was presented with the Alan Farkas Photography Award.

The full list of awards can be found at the Addy Awards website.