UNL’s National Student Advertising Competition (NSAC) team placed second at the American Advertising Federation’s District 9 competition, held in Kansas City, Missouri, on April 22. This year’s eight competing teams came from colleges and universities in Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas and Missouri.
Each year, a national client provides NSAC teams across the country with a brief that outlines a marketing challenge to be addressed with advertising. This year’s client was the world’s largest job search site, Indeed. Students were asked to create a fully integrated marketing campaign targeted to Gen Z.
For seven months, the UNL team delved into the world of Indeed and its competitors, conducted extensive research, identified potential areas of opportunity for the brand and then created a fully integrated marketing campaign that was presented before a panel of judges at the district competition.
The judges were so impressed with the UNL team’s strategy, they created a special “Best Strategy” award. Brian Hubbard, assistant professor of practice and NSAC lead faculty advisor, said the judges were also highly impressed with the quality of writing and design reflected in the team’s comprehensive plans book.
UNL’s 11-person team came from the College of Journalism and Mass Communications, the Hixson-Lied College of Fine and Performing Arts, the Johnny Carson Center for Emerging Media Arts and the College of Arts and Sciences.
“It was a lot of fun transitioning from my role last year as research director to this year’s role as the account planner,” senior advertising and public relations major Sadie Lamplot said. “I went from collecting the research to actually driving the campaign’s strategic direction.”
“It's difficult to put in words the amount of work and effort that went into this year’s campaign, but in short, a lot, and it paid off because although we placed second overall, we won an award that’s not given unless the judges genuinely believe a team deserves it,” Lamplot said.
Lamplot was one of three returning members from the 2022 team, along with junior emerging media arts major and motion graphics designer Sam Lawton and the team’s creative director, senior advertising and public relations major Quin Sleddens.
“Last year I chose to participate in NSAC for the first time because it is a nationally known competition and employers in our field recognize the challenges and accomplishments this experience requires,” Lamplot said. “I returned for a second year for more first-hand experiences like meeting real-world work expectations and being part of a highly motivated team.”
Sleddens was also part of the trio that presented to the judges including:
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Carina Collins, senior advertising and public relations major and research director
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Mia Hartley, senior advertising and public relations major and art director
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Taylor Kumm, junior advertising and public relations major and copywriter
“NSAC is a great resume builder; however, through my experience, I've learned my favorite part is all the friendships this competition fosters,” Lamplot said. “I've truly enjoyed this year's experience because of all that we achieved, and being close friends with all the team members makes it even better.”
This year’s NSAC team advisers were Hubbard and lecturer Diane Krajicek. Jennifer Urich, CEO and co-founder of Sparrow Strategy, also shared her strategic expertise with the team while visiting campus from Feb. 27 to March 11 as CoJMC’s Dick Worick Visiting Professor in Market Research.
“This team did an outstanding job, and I couldn’t be prouder of them and their work,” Hubbard said. “My first year advising the team was a joy and privilege, and I’m already looking forward to next year’s competition.”
Following is a list of UNL’s 2023 NSAC team members, listed alphabetically by hometown with their year in school, major(s) and role on the team.
Blair: Sam Lawton, junior, emerging media arts, motion graphics designer
Beatrice: Holly Fischer, junior, advertising and public relations, broadcasting, and political science, research and media strategist
Fort Calhoun: Cole Klabunde, junior, advertising and public relations, and communication studies, copywriter
Lincoln: Quin Sleddens, senior, advertising and public relations, creative director and presenter; Spencer Swearingen, senior, advertising and public relations, research and media strategist
Omaha: Johnny Sloboth, junior, graphic design, art director
Thurston: Sadie Lamplot, senior, advertising and public relations, account planner
Wausa: Taylor Kumm, junior, advertising and public relations, copywriter and presenter
Waverly: Mia Hartley, senior, advertising and public relations, art director and presenter
Woodridge, Illinois: Carina Collins, senior, advertising and public relations, research director and presenter
Clive, Iowa: Elizabeth Fischbach, junior, advertising and public relations, project manager