Washington, D.C. — For 40 years corporate sponsors have turned to the collegiate members of the American Advertising Federation for fresh ideas and insight on today’s consumers. Through the National Student Advertising Competition (NSAC), the premier student advertising competition in the nation, students from across the country have been challenged to think critically and develop high-level integrated marketing campaigns for some of the country’s most recognizable brands. The American Advertising Federation’s (AAF) University of Miami college chapter was selected once again as the national champion in the 2013 NSAC.

Glidden, the 2013 NSAC sponsor, challenged AAF college chapter members to develop an integrated and multi-platform marketing effort for three different customer segments –DIY renters, current Walmart paint shoppers and DIYers who shop Walmart Home products but not currently purchase paint. University of Miami was one of eighteen teams to advance to the finals in Phoenix and present their campaign to Glidden’s senior marketing executives: Rob Horton, Marketing Director, PPG Architectural Coatings; Nestor Hernandez, Director, Walmart North America, PPG Architectural Coatings; and Jennifer Ginnetti, Glidden Brand Manager, PPG Architectural Coatings.

“The quality and depth of work that all the students demonstrated both at Nationals and across all 144 participating schools speaks volumes for the talent, creativity and energy that the future generation of marketers posses,” said Eric Stasiowski, Director of Communications for PPG Architectural Coatings, parent company of NSAC national sponsor Glidden paint. “What we saw were well thought out plans backed by insight and strategic thought which ultimately yielded some very real implementable ideas.”

University of Miami was also awarded a $1,000 grant from Ad-ology for best use of market research. In addition, Syracuse University, placing 2nd nationally, received a $1,500 grant from Veer for their use of imagery in the campaign plans book and presentation. Johnson & Wales University-Providence placed 4th and also received a $1,500 grant from Experian Marketing Services for the best plans book. The Nielsen Company and SRDS also provided access to their resources to enable the NSAC team members to create targeted advertising and marketing recommendations.  Finally, Robert Freeman Smith from Michigan State University was rewarded the District 7 Bolton-MacVicar Best Presenter Award.

About Glidden
Glidden is a division of PPG Industries, one of the largest paint manufactures in North America. Since its founding in 1875, Glidden paint has been an American paint brand with a “Do it yourself” legacy.  Glidden’s efforts of re-launch goals within a few months and the marketing effort won the Gold Effie for marketing effectiveness. More information on Glidden in North America can be found at www.glidden.com.

For more information on Glidden, Inc. contact Eric Stasiowski, Director of Communications for PPG Architectural Coatings at eric.stasiowski@akzonobel.com

About the American Advertising Federation
Headquartered in Washington, D.C., the American Advertising Federation is the nation’s oldest national advertising trade association and the only association representing all facets of the advertising industry.  It acts as the “Unifying Voice for Advertising.”  The AAF also has 15 district operations, each located in and representing a different region of the nation.  The AAF’s membership is comprised of nearly 100 blue chip corporate members comprising the nation’s leading advertisers, advertising agencies, and media companies; a national network of 200 local federations, representing 40,000 advertising professionals, located in ad communities across the country; and 220 AAF college chapters, with over 6,000 student members.  The AAF operates a host of programs and initiatives including the Advertising Hall of Fame, The American Advertising Awards, the National Student Advertising Competition, and the Mosaic Center on Multiculturalism. For more information on the full range of AAF programming, visit www.aaf.org.

For more information on NSAC, please visit www.aaf.org/nsac or contact Education Services at education@aaf.org or (202) 898-0089.