Twelve Art Institute Students Competing for ADDY Awards

Students David Dresner (left), Niklas Meijer (right) and recent graduate Rachel Makowski, (center) of the Art Institute of California – Inland Empire, earned three of four gold medals given to students during the first-ever student ADDY Awards competition, held in 2008. Meijer and 11 other current students hope to win more gold Friday, March 20 when the Inland Empire Ad Club holds its 2009 ADDY Awards Ceremony at the Victoria Gardens Cultural Center, and The Art Institute’s students participate in the second annual student competition. The ADDY awards, at both the student and professional levels, recognize excellence in advertising.


(SAN BERNARDINO, Calif.) A year ago Niklas Meijer of Riverside designed one of the best advertisements of any student in the Inland Empire. He’s one of a dozen Art Institute of California – Inland Empire students who hope to receive this honor in 2009, as they participate in the student portion of the Inland Empire Ad Club’s ADDY awards.

The other Art Institute students participating are Scott Kruger of Apple Valley, Andrew Hernandez of Pomona, Ron Mason, David Monge and Bart Welt, all of Fontana, Karen Pavon and Dante Guib of Moreno Valley, Rodolfo Godinez and Jesse Hoffman of Riverside and Marsee Smith of Bloomington.

This year’s ADDY Awards, recognizing the finest advertising in the Inland Empire, are scheduled for Friday, March 20 at Victoria Gardens in Rancho Cucamonga. The annual competition is sponsored by, Inland Empire Ad Club, the local chapter of the American Advertising Federation (AAF).

A cocktail reception with hors d’ oeuvres begins at 6:30 p.m. in the Cultural Center, followed by the awards presentation at 8 p.m. The ADDY’s honor creative excellence in advertising, graphic design, web design, photography and illustration.

According to AAF board member and program chair John McCarthy, “This is our opportunity to showcase the winners who were recently selected during very competitive judging.”

Last year, The Art Institute of California – Inland Empire swept the student portion of the competition. Meijer and fellow students David Dresner and Rachel Makowski (who has since graduated) received three of the four gold awards. Meijer and Welt also were among the Art Institute students receiving nine of the 10 silver awards.

Last year was the first time the Inland Empire Ad Club had offered a student competition.

Gold winners, in both the student and professional categories are those judged the most outstanding in various categories. They will represent the Inland Empire Ad Club at a regional competition, and if they win there at the American Advertising Federation’s national ADDY Awards competition.

Silver winners are also judged to be worthy of recognition, and can also advance to the regional and national levels of the competition.

Tickets for the ADDY evening are $55 apiece. By ordering online, the price drops to $40 for local AAF chapter members, said McCarthy. Student members of the local AAF chapter can purchase tickets for $30. Everyone is encouraged to purchase tickets online: aaf-inlandempire.com/events.

The Art Institute of California – Inland Empire offers Bachelor of Science degrees in Game Art & Design, Graphic Design, Web Design & Interactive Media, Interior Design, Fashion & Retail Management, and Media Arts & Animation. It offers an Associate degree in Graphic Design, and a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Fashion Design.

The International Culinary School at The Art Institute of California – Inland Empire offers an Associate degree in Culinary Arts and a Bachelor of Science degree in Culinary Management. Each program is offered on a year-round basis, allowing students to work uninterrupted toward their degrees.

It’s not too late to start a new term at The Art Institute of California – Inland Empire. Courses begin April 6 and classes are offered in the day, evening and on weekends for new and reentry students.

For more information, or to arrange a tour, call Richard Green at The Art Institute of California – Inland Empire at (909) 915-2100 or go on line to www.artinstitutes.edu/InlandEmpire.


-end-