Local Students Take Home the Gold

California State University, San Bernardino (CSUSB) students have grabbed the gold in a competition that saw scores of aspiring designers, from four academic institutions, put their best advertising foot forward. Held recently, the Inland Empire 2014 American Advertising Awards gala honored several CSUSB students with 24 gold, silver and bronze awards, called ADDYs, at the annual event. Organized by the American Advertising Federation (AAF), the IE awards event was the first step in a three-tier national competition that recognized the very best in advertising creativity and excellence. CSUSB students, Melissa Sala and Eddie Villanueva, each took home the gold. Sala won for her Sweet Mate Sweetener packaging design and Villanueva won for his “10 Rules for Making Good Design” booklet. Dustin Glauser racked up two gold and three silver awards for his Kill the Box stationery set and his comic book media kit. Both of these projects won in the collateral materials category. These honors gave Glauser an, “overwhelming and humbling sense of accomplishment,” he said. He went on to share, “At times, I am very self-conscious of the art I create. Winning these awards doesn’t prove that I’m doing it right, but it certainly helps me believe that I’m moving in a good direction.” Winners of gold ADDY awards automatically advance to the AAF district competition for a chance to win and move on to the national competition. Jacob Poore, CSUSB alumnus and marketing specialist, shared, “This year was the best showing of CSUSB students in ADDY gala history.”