UNL advertising students win NSAC district competition

A team of 18 advertising students from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln College of Journalism and Mass Communications took home first place in the District 9 American Advertising Federation's National Student Advertising Competition April 15 in Kansas City, Mo.

This marks the third year that UNL will compete for the national title in the nation's leading student advertising competition.

Nebraska will represent District 9 at the national finals in San Diego, Calif., June 2-3, 2011, during the annual American Advertising Federation conference. Nationwide more than 150 colleges and universities took on the NSAC challenge in district competitions at 15 locations over the past three weeks. The ninth district represents advertising clubs and American Advertising Federations in Nebraska, Iowa, Missouri and Kansas.

The American Advertising Federation sponsors the NSAC competition and provides advertising students with real-world experience.

"There is no better way to learn about an advertising campaign process than by actually developing a campaign for a real client," according to the AAF.

Team advisers Phil Willet and Rich Bailey accompanied the students. Willet is an assistant professor of advertising and public relations and Bailey is an adjunct professor.

Each year a corporate sponsor provides a case study outlining the history of its product and current advertising situation. This year's client is JCPenney.

The case study always reflects a real world situation. Students must research the product and its competition, identify potential problem areas and devise an integrated communications campaign for the client. Each student team then "pitches" its campaign to a panel of judges. Judging is conducted by professionals in the communications industry.

Regional NSAC competitions are held each spring in 15 districts throughout the U.S. The winning team in each district and one wild card team then advances to compete on the national level at the AAF National Conference in June.

The competition is governed by the AAF Education Services department and the AAF Academic Committee, a group of advertising educators and practitioners from across the country, who oversee the policies and procedures of the competitions. These members ensure that there is a level playing field and that the competition demonstrates the highest academic and professional standards.