Live Oak students savor opportunity to attend American Advertising Awards Gala

Seventeen School of Communications students and two faculty members represented Live Oak Communications at the Triangle AdFed’s 2019 American Advertising Awards Gala, enjoying an up-close look at the advertising industry – and seeing what success looks like on the professional level.

Formerly the ADDYs, the American Advertising Awards are the advertising industry’s largest competition, attracting more than 40,000 entries nationwide every year. The Triangle AdFed’s gala, held Feb. 21 in Raleigh, recognizes excellence in the Triangle’s professional advertising industry, as well as student work on the collegiate level.

Among those honored this year was Elon senior Kerry Sheehan-Delany, who earned a silver award in the competition’s Elements of Advertising, Original Photography category. Live Oak’s creative content producer was celebrated for her food photography highlighting long-time client Blue Ribbon Diner, a Burlington eatery on South Church Street.

​“Kerry rightfully earned this award for photography. Her skill and the recognition speak volumes to the complex teamwork that goes into what we do for clients,” said Hal Vincent, Live Oak’s faculty director. “This photography is part of a bigger picture of what Live Oak can do for a client. In this case, it works as part of an on-going social media strategy to increase appetite appeal to drive visits to the restaurant. This is a great example of the multifaceted, comprehensive, integrated marketing communications campaign we create for clients and that we are really quite proud of at Live Oak."

Moving forward, Sheehan-Delany’s entry advances to the American Advertising Awards’ district level competition, with the possibility of moving on to the national level. The Triangle AdFed’s competition was open to individuals from universities located from Raleigh to Winston-Salem.

​For Vincent and Associate Professor Ben Hannam, who serves as Live Oak’s faculty creative adviser, the benefit of the ceremony experience goes far beyond just awards and recognition.  

“Elon and Live Oak present students with these opportunities to get off campus and literally be in the environment of professionals – to experience the same challenges and success that the pros face, and a chance to see how their careers will look when their time in the classroom is complete,” Vincent said. “Ben and I really value the School of Communications’ support to engage students in non-traditional academic settings, like this annual awards show.”

While Live Oak students have attended past galas, this year’s group was the largest the student-run organization has ever sent.

“The students showed a real interest in wanting to attend, and to absorb the great work that was on display from all of the professionals of the Triangle,” said Vincent, who is a Triangle AdFed board member and education committee chair.

In 2018, communication design majors Rachel Hayes ’18 and Shelby Baitsholts ’18 combined to win three awards at the Triangle AdFed’s 2018 American Advertising Awards Gala.

About Live Oak Communications

Live Oak Communications is Elon University’s student-run strategic communications agency, providing students unique experiences partnering with numerous businesses, nonprofits and organizations to achieve their business goals through targeted, multiplatform strategies and tactics. Live Oak’s capabilities include public relations, advertising, video, web design, social media solutions, graphic design, corporate identity and more.