Undergraduate advertising students from the University of Colorado at Boulder School of Journalism and Mass Communication took home more honors than competitors from any other university at the New York One Club's annual One Show student competition.
The event is the top international student advertising competition. Among 59 award winners and finalists announced last week, CU-Boulder had seven winning entries, more than any other graduate or undergraduate school in the show.
Nearly 1,000 student teams from more than 106 colleges and universities in 16 countries entered the competition. Students created advertising for the Natural Resources Defense Council on issues ranging from global warming and clean energy to toxic chemicals and human health. Organizers said the event was a showcase for the future of green advertising.
The competition, known for launching the careers of creative new talent, is sponsored by The One Club, a New York City-based nonprofit that recognizes and promotes advertising excellence.
"Over the last eight years, we've won more total awards than any other four-year university thanks to the hard work put in by our talented students and highly experienced faculty," said Brett Robbs, an associate professor of advertising.
"Full-time faculty members guide students day to day while the adjunct faculty - who are top professionals in their field - make sure the student work remains not just current but cutting-edge," he said.
Competition categories this year included print advertising, television, design, interactive and innovative marketing. CU-Boulder student teams took home awards in four of the five categories. Winning entries will be published in the 2007 One Show Annual, alongside work by top advertising professionals.
CU-Boulder students William Geddes and Jarret Roberts won a Silver Pencil in the interactive category for an energy saver Web site they created, and Andrea Gomes, Scott Hanson and Andrea Todaro won a Bronze Pencil in the innovative marketing category for an advertising campaign based on children's book covers.
The One Show Merit Finalists from CU-Boulder were Rachel Shahvar, Shawna Lehr, Tony Cozzolino, Hillary Tandrow, Geddes, Roberts and Joel Timm. All of the students are graduating seniors.
"Our students' success in The One Show is bringing recognition to CU and opening doors for our students, and has helped recent graduates take positions as copywriters and art directors at major national agencies," said Mindy Cheval, head of the School of Journalism and Mass Communication's advertising sequence.
Jonathan Schoenberg, an adjunct faculty member and partner and creative director at the Boulder-based TDA Advertising and Design, said it was unusual for an undergraduate program to compete successfully year after year with graduate and professional schools.
Schoenberg's students, once again, were among this year's Pencil winners. "The chance to work with students who are consistently so competitive is an exciting opportunity and one of the attractions of the CU advertising program," he said.
For more information about the CU-Boulder School of Journalism and Mass Communication and its advertising sequence, visit .