June 7, 2012

University’s Ad Team Earns Fifth Place at National Competition

CANYON, Texas—Buffalo Advertising, West Texas A&M University’s competitive advertising team, competed against schools from across the country to earn a fifth-place finish at the American Advertising Federation’s National Student Advertising Competition June 2-5 in Austin.

The WTAMU team earned a total of 83.75 points behind the University of Nebraska in first place with 89.75 points, the University of Alabama, second, Johnson and Wales, third and the University of Miami, fourth. It marked the first time in University history for a WTAMU advertising team to compete at the national level. Other Texas universities competing were Texas A&M, ninth place, and Texas Christian University, 11th place.

Nissan Americas sponsored the 39th annual competition, and students were tasked with the challenge of developing a fully integrated marketing campaign to help Nissan build awareness and lasting favorability among African-Americans, Hispanic and Chinese millennial consumers in the United States. Each team was required to create a 32-page marketing campaign as well as a 20-minute presentation for competition first at the district level with winners advancing to the regional and national levels.  

Members of the Buffalo Advertising team spent months for the competition. Dr. Leigh Browning, associate professor of mass Communication, serves as the team’s presentation coach. Dr. R. Nicholas Gerlich, head of the Department of Marketing, Management and General Business, provides benchmark, ROI and evaluation assistance, and Lori Westermann, instructor of mass communication, serves as the team adviser.

Buffalo Advertising team members are listed by hometown, classification and major.
Amarillo
Paul Lamonica, junior mass communication major—media department
Frankie Sanchez, senior mass communication major—promotions department
Jordan Smith, junior mass communication major—promotions department
Stacy Saultz, junior mass communication major—presenter and project manager
Bogota, Columbia
Mateo Pinzon, junior mass communication major—graphic designer
Canyon
Lindsey Sweetgall, junior mass communication major—media department
Castle Rock, Colo.
Kristin Kuhns, senior mass communication major—copy assistant and media department
Corpus Christi
Tyler Sweeney, senior mass communication major—presenter and creative department
Dallas
Jessica Chandos, junior mass communication major—copy assistant and promotions department
Earth
Sheryl Proctor, junior mass communication major—production a creative department
Lubbock
Darren Darthard, junior mass communication major—presenter a promotions department
Quito, Ecuador
Carlo Aguirre, junior mass communication major—graphic designer and media department
San Antonio
Julia Greif, junior mass communication major—presenter and creative department
Wellington
Wilson Lemieux, sophomore mass communication major—presenter and Creative department

—WTAMU—