Texas Creative Students Win District ADDYs

Camille Sudekum and Ruth Kwan

Two Texas Creative students won Best of Show at this year's district American Advertising Awards. Camille Sudekum and Ruth Kwan, both graduating seniors, submitted multiple creative campaigns. However, their campaign for Outdoorsy, an RV rental service, won gold.

While designing this campaign, Sudekum and Kwan approached creative thinking by putting themselves in the targeted consumer mindset.

“I love the outdoors. I love to camp, but I would never rent an RV. So, I was trying to get into the mindset of someone who would. I thought to myself, ‘They must not enjoy the down and dirty side of the outdoors. Maybe they just enjoy the views and not the sleeping on the ground portion of it all,’” Sudekum said.

Winning an ADDY is a big deal for advertising students. The American Advertising Awards are one of the industry’s largest creative competition, consisting of three tiers. In the district competition, students in Texas compete against other students Oklahoma, Louisiana and Arkansas. Because Sudekum and Kwan won gold, they automatically move on to nationals.

“It’s really surreal to think that something I did is getting so far,” Kwan said.

While the two students remain hopeful about nationals, their names are buzzing throughout agencies in Austin. Both Sudekum and Kwan have had some of the best agencies offer them positions because of the win. While Kwan is still weighing her options, Sudekum plans to continue her endeavors at Bartle Bogle Hegarty in New York..

We wish these students and others moving on to nationals the best of luck. Congratulations and Hook ‘em!

Ricarsha Mobley