Elon University students captured 12 awards in the Southeast Colloquium Creative Contest, a creative competition for members of the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication (AEJMC) and Broadcast Education Association (BEA).
As part of the 46th annual AEJMC Southeast Colloquium, hosted virtually last week by the School of Communications, Elon University students captured 12 awards – and $275 in cash prizes – in the event’s Creative Contest, a creative competition with entries from across the country.
The Creative Contest, open to students and faculty members of the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication (AEJMC) and Broadcast Education Association (BEA), featured 136 submitted works across four categories: Advertising Design; Photography; Publication and Editorial Design; and Visual Identity and Branding.
Among the student winners were Steph Brendel, Rachel Cifarelli and Catherine Nester earning second-place finishes for their respective entries. Kaitlyn Merritt snagged a third-place award, and Nester also collected three honorable mentions.
“Design competitions, like the Southeast Colloquium Creative Contest, promote excellence, creativity, and advance
innovation – all of which are vital in our field,” said Shannon Zenner, assistant professor of communication design, who chaired the colloquium’s Visual Communication group. “And contests allow others to see and be inspired by the work of others. Design contests take the invisible designers behind the best design work and makes them visible. And winning, of course, brings validation and endorsement of the work being done.”
In addition to the student awards, Associate Professor of Communication Design Ben Hannam earned three awards in the faculty competition, including first place in the
Publication and Editorial Design category. His winning entry featured the covers of his published book, “Oh @#$% I’m Graduating! A Student’s Guide to Creating a Killer Portfolio.”
Award winners
Here is a comprehensive list of Elon’s award winners:
Faculty: Publication & Editorial Design
Gold – Ben Hannam & Bizhan Khodabandeh
Faculty: Visual Identity & Branding
Silver – Ben Hannam & Bizhan Khodabandeh
Bronze – Ben Hannam & Bizhan Khodabandeh
Student: Advertising Design
2nd – Steph Brendel
3rd – Kaitlyn Merritt
Honorable Mention: Direct – Steph Brendel
Honorable Mention: Interactive – Claire Brodsky
Honorable Mention: Out-of-Home – Sarah Bellinger
Honorable Mention: Poster – Catherine Nester
Honorable Mention: Print – Catherine Nester
Student: Publication & Editorial Design
2nd – Rachel Cifarelli
Honorable Mention: Album/CD Cover – Taylor Truitt
Student: Visual Identity & Branding
2nd – Catherine Nester
Honorable Mention: Packaging – Sarah Schwab
Honorable Mention: Illustration – Catherine Nester