WT Students Sweep Awards for Graphic Design

Copy by Chip Chandler, 806-651-2124, cchandler@wtamu.edu

CANYON, Texas — West Texas A&M University students once again swept virtually all collegiate-level categories in a recent local competition.

WT students in the Sybil B. Harrington College of Fine Arts & Humanities won a best of show award, two gold awards and five silver awards in the contest.

Dylan Green, a senior graphic design major from Dumas, won Best of Show for a punk typography poster campaign; the campaign also won an individual gold award. Green also won three silver awards for packaging, animation or special effects, and direct marketing.

Chris Mathews, a senior graphic design major from Amarillo, won the Mosaic Award for his chAMA! Cultural Festival campaign. He also won a special judges’ award and a gold award for packaging.

WT students won 9 out of 11 collegiate categories.

WT students also scored awards in professional categories.

Mel Richards, a senior graphic design major from Houston, won two silver awards as part of the Street Volkswagen team.

Lauren Corea, a senior graphic design from Canyon, won a silver award for black & white/color/digitally enhanced photography campaign.

“Our winning tradition continues,” said Marcus Melton, associate professor of graphic design. “Our students’ work was judged by professionals from around the county and they have recognized our students’ talent and work year after year. It’s an honor celebrating the excellent work of our students and alumni.”

Additionally, the WT Academic Marketing office won a special judge’s award and a gold award for “Ubuntu,” a video detailing a Study Abroad trip to South Africa.

The 2023 American Advertising Awards were given out in a Feb. 22 ceremony hosted by American Advertising Federation–Amarillo.

AAF’s three-tier, national competition starts locally, with businesses, nonprofits, students and others vying for recognition as the best in their markets.

“A Gold ADDY is recognition of the highest level of creative excellence and is judged to be superior to all other entries in the category. Entries that are also considered outstanding and worthy of recognition receive a Silver ADDY,” according to AAF.

Gold award winners automatically advance to the district competition.

Promoting quality, both in education and student work, is a cornerstone of the University’s long-range plan, WT 125: From the Panhandle to the World.

That plan is fueled by the historic One West comprehensive fundraising campaign, which reached its initial $125 million goal 18 months after publicly launching in September 2021. The campaign’s new goal is to reach $175 million by 2025; currently, it has raised more than $150 million.

About West Texas A&M University

WT is located in Canyon, Texas, on a 342-acre residential campus. Established in 1910, the University has been part of The Texas A&M University System since 1990. WT, a Hispanic Serving Institution since 2016, boasts an enrollment of about 10,000 and offers 59 undergraduate degree programs and more than 40 graduate degrees, including two doctoral degrees. The University is also home to the Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum, the largest history museum in the state and the home of one of the Southwest’s finest art collections. The Buffaloes are a member of the NCAA Division II Lone Star Conference and offers 14 men’s and women’s athletics programs.

Photo: West Texas A&M University graphic design students recently swept the collegiate categories of the 2023 American Advertising Awards in Amarillo. Pictured are, from left, Marcus Melton, associate professor of graphic design; Chris Matthews, Dylan Green, Mel Richards and Lauren Corea. 

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