The Modern’s NSAC Team Earns Second Place at 2025 District Competition

The Modern College of Design is proud to share that its student marketing team placed second at the National Student Advertising Competition (NSAC), held on April 12, 2025, in Louisville, Kentucky.

Organized by the American Advertising Federation (AAF), NSAC is the top college advertising competition in the country. Each year, students from across the nation develop and pitch a full marketing campaign for a national client.

This year’s client, AT&T, challenged teams to create a campaign that would resonate with Gen Z. The Modern’s team embraced that challenge by building a campaign that focused on the power of connection. Their work combined real, relatable moments with a twist of humor, creating a concept that felt both authentic and memorable.

Guided by instructors AJ Busé and Clancy Boyer, the team spent months researching, writing, designing, and practicing their pitch. Their hard work paid off with a second-place finish and praise from the judges for their insight, creativity, and strategic thinking. The margin between first and second place was incredibly close.

In addition to the team’s success, student Gabe Salazar was recognized with the Best Presenter Award. This honor is given to the student who demonstrates exceptional presentation skills, confidence, and the ability to connect with the judges and audience.

"This team brought their best to every stage of the competition," said Jessica Barry, President of The Modern College of Design. "It is always exciting to see our students challenge themselves with a real-world client and grow through the process. The amount they learn about collaboration, creativity, and presenting their ideas is something they will carry with them into their careers. We are proud of everything they accomplished."

This year’s team included Audrey Albers, Riley Birkhold, Christian Burlison, Christian Clark, Joshua Cross, Zoe Enochs, Grace Gabriel, Micah Hermiller, Isabelle House, Jordyn Kern, Ryvr Langley, Ricky Lee, Issa Munoz-Chan, Parv Nema, Evie Rosencrantz, Gabe Salazar, Ian Wiant, Dakota Wilson, and Emily Woodworth.