Grand Canyon University College of Arts and Media faculty and staff brought home several awards from the recent American Advertising Federation (AAF) Phoenix awards ceremony.
The Creative Educator of the Year award was introduced by AAF this year to celebrate mentors who are actively serving as inspirational examples and raising the next generation of designers. GCU’s chair of digital design, Sheila Schumacher, was honored with the award.
“She is the light, the heart and the glue of GCU,” said design professor Troy Pottgen.
“To see our students stand up at tables across the room to celebrate the mentorship of Professor Sheila demonstrated GCU’s broad and significant reach in the ad industry,” added Dr. Craig Detweiler, College of Arts and Media dean.
Also honored with 2024 AAF awards were:
- Hannah Heisler, 2019 graphic design graduate: Young Person of the Year award
- Alyssa Prentiss, senior digital design major: Up and Comer of the Year award, gold ADDY for Online Interactive App for “Figure 8,” gold ADDY for Integrated Advertising Campaign for “Figure 8” and gold ADDY for Student Best of Show for “Figure 8”
- Tory Barden, senior digital design major: Bronze ADDY for Online Interactive Website for "Scattered" and silver ADDY for Online Interactive App for “Stellar Therapy Pods”
- Canyon Creative, GCU’s student-led design club: Gold ADDY for Film, Video and Sound Television Campaign for its commercial on “Building Interactive Videos”
“It was such a gratifying experience to see our students and alums honored at the largest regional advertising competition,” shared Detweiler. “We are clearly launching the next generation of leaders in graphic design and advertising.”
AAF is a national advertising industry association that hosts yearly banquets to honor individuals for their finest advertising campaigns, creative digital designs and impact in the media community.
