The student-run strategic communications agency captured one silver and four bronze accolades at the AAF Triangle’s 2023 American Advertising Awards gala.
Live Oak Communications, Elon’s student-run strategic communications agency, collected five awards in the Student Division at the American Advertising Awards (ADDYs) gala, hosted by the American Advertising Federation of the Triangle (AAF Triangle). More than a dozen Live Oak members attended the March 2 celebration in Morrisville, North Carolina, which recognized the best in advertising from Central and Eastern North Carolina.
The student agency won a silver ADDY award in the competition’s Poster – Campaign category for its “Unleash Your Imagination” swim lessons poster. Micaela Ryan ’22 produced the award-winning submission for Olde Forest Racquet Club, one of the agency’s clients.
“In my opinion what made this submission so compelling was that the designer truly had fun creating it,” said Ayla Brongo ’25, Live Oak’s creative director. “You can tell by the final product that Micaela really put her own spin on the creative brief and allowed her personal style to influence the piece. The judges love seeing personality and passion, and I believe this poster captures both of those perfectly.”
Additionally, the agency won four bronze ADDYs, earning accolades in the Stationary Package category (The Village Grill catering campaign), Social Media – Campaign category (Blue Ribbon Diner social media), Integrated Advertising Campaign category (McPherson Cleaners “Make Memories Last”). Ryan’s swim lessons poster was also recognized in the Poster – Single category.
“Elon strives to make the experience of working at Live Oak as real world as possible,” said Professor Lee Bush, who is directing the agency this spring during Senior Lecturer Hal Vincent’s sabbatical. “It doesn’t get any more real world than competing in one of the industry’s oldest and largest awards competitions. It’s thrilling for students to attend the Triangle gala and be recognized for creative excellence in the presence of the area’s advertising professionals. It’s a proud moment for Live Oak and gives added credence to the quality of our students’ work.”
Supported by its hard-working staff, Live Oak has provided numerous deliverables to clients in Elon, Mebane and throughout Alamance County. The agency consists of four staff teams: Account, Media Analytics, Creative and Branding. This year, the agency is led by Becca Chase ’24, agency director, Alexa Morissey ’25, assistant agency director, and Brongo.
The American Advertising Federation, the nation’s oldest national advertising trade association, and the only association representing all facets of the advertising industry, is headquartered in Washington, D.C. Regionally, AAF Triangle works to promote the well-being of the Raleigh-area advertising industry, which also includes Apex, Cary, Carrboro, Chapel Hill, Durham and Morrisville. To accomplish this mission, the organization offers unique programming and community involvement initiatives for the practitioners who work within those markets.