Florida A&M University Wins 2026 Local ADDY Awards
Gainesville, Fla. – Florida A&M University (FAMU) was a big winner at the 2026 American Advertising Awards (ADDYs) presented by the American Advertising Federation North Central Florida chapter. The institution received five awards and FAMU School of Journalism and Graphic Communication (SJGC) students and faculty were recognized with an additional seven awards.
“Florida A&M University is incredibly proud to be recognized alongside our professional and collegiate peers for excellence in branded content, magazine advertising, online collateral, and other marketing initiatives,” said Vice President and Chief Marketing & Communications Officer Alonda Thomas, Ph.D. “This prestigious honor from the American Advertising Federation is a powerful affirmation of the artistry, strategy, and passion behind our work to elevate FAMU’s brand on a national stage. We are excited to continue to ‘Strike Boldly’ with innovative campaigns that captivate audiences, amplify our story, and reflect the brilliance of our University community.”
The ADDYs represent the nation’s largest advertising competition, with local, district, and national competitions celebrating creative excellence in advertising, marketing and design. Conducted annually by the AAF, the local tier of the American Advertising Awards is the first of a three-tier, national competition. Concurrently, across the country, local entrants vie to receive an ADDY Award—recognition as the very best in their markets.
- FAMU received a Local Gold ADDY in the category of online/interactive, websites, microsites
for the 2025 FAMU Homecoming: Eternal World Tour.
- FAMU received a Local Silver ADDY in the category of Film, Video, & Sounds, Branded
Content & Entertainment, Online Single for the FAMU 2025 Hype Video.
- FAMU received a Local Silver ADDY in the category of Print Advertising, Magazine Advertising, Single for the FAMU Best of Both Worlds Drum Major ad.
FAMU was also recognized with an additional two Local Gold ADDYs for work produced in partnership with azure77, a creative marketing firm owned by alumnus Charles Collins III. The marketing campaign for FAMU Homecoming 2025 was recognized in the category of Cross Platform, Integrated Branded Content, and the FAMU College of Agriculture and Food Sciences Summer 2025 Magazine was recognized in the category of Sales & Marketing, Publication Design.
Vice President of University Advancement Brandi Tatum-Fedrick, Ed.D., noted that the campaign for FAMU Homecoming: Eternal World Tour was more than a celebration, it was a powerful expression of Rattler pride, culture, and global connection.
“This recognition from the American Advertising Awards reflects the creativity, innovation, and storytelling excellence of the talented Florida A&M University team and partners, including our students, whose vision and collaboration helped bring this award-winning campaign to life and showcase the unmatched power of FAMU,” said Tatum-Fedrick. “Homecoming is one of our most treasured traditions, and the Eternal World Tour experience captured the spirit, energy, and legacy of FAMU in a way that resonated far beyond our campus.”
Jordan Richardson's work was recognized among the best. (Photo special to FAMU)
Students from the FAMU School of Journalism and Graphic Communication were heavy favorites for illustration and integrated brand identity campaigns. In addition to gold-level recognition, two students were recognized with Best of Category trophies.
- Jordan Richardson received a Student Gold ADDY Award, Elements of Advertising, Illustration, for Peachy-A Self Promo Ad.
- Andrew Watson received a Student Gold ADDY Award in Cross-Platform, Integrated Brand Identity Campaign for Your Shoes Your Story for Nike.
Andrew Watson. (Photo special to FAMU)
Additional award recipients included:
- John Dehaarte received a Student Gold ADDY Award , Print Advertising, Magazine Advertising Campaign
for Drawing Out Voices for Autism, and a Student Silver ADDY Award, Elements of Advertising, Illustration for Drawing Out Voices for Autism.
- Nabrea Hardy received a Student Gold ADDY Award, Elements of Advertising, Illustration, for Divine Comedy, An Upside-Down Comic.
- Andrew Watson, Ashton Johnson, Jordan Barber received a Student Silver ADDY Award in Sales & Marketing, Publication Design, Magazine for Journey Magazine: Politics Issue.
Finally, a team featuring FAMU students and faculty received a Local Silver ADDY Award in support of a campaign for a sister institution. SJGC Professors Anosh Gill and Kenneth Jones partnered with graphic design student Nabrea Hardy and recent graduate Luis Arriaga to win a Local Silver Addy Award in Out-of-Home & Ambient Media, Poster, Single for the MFA Student Movie Poster / Florida State University College of Motion Picture Arts.
“Seeing our students and faculty shine with AAF North Central Florida honors underscores FAMU’s strength in cultivating top creative talent — from visual communication to branding — across Florida and the nation,” said SJGC Dean Mira Lowe.
Coming up during the second-tier round, Local Gold ADDY winners will compete against winners from other local clubs in one of 15 district competitions. District ADDY winners are then forwarded to the third tier, the national stage of the American Advertising Awards.
Selection of the most creative entry in each category is affected by a scoring process in which a panel of judges evaluates all creative dimensions of every entry. A Gold ADDY is recognition of the highest level of creative excellence and is judged to be superior to all other entries in the category. Entries that are also considered outstanding and worthy of recognition receive a Silver ADDY. The number of awards given in each category is determined by the judges, based on the relative quality of work in that category.
Media Contact
Rachel James-Terry
Senior Director of Strategic Communications
rachel.jamesterry@famu.edu
