UIW Graphic Design Students Recognized at 2024 American Advertising Awards

On Friday, Feb. 28, the UIW School of Media and Design had much to celebrate as 23 of its Graphic Design students were recognized with awards and scholarships at the 2024 American Advertising Awards, hosted by AAF San Antonio. “The American Advertising Awards honor innovation, excellence and the bold ideas that shape our city’s advertising landscape. This year’s theme, Keep It SA, pays tribute to the vibrant culture and creative spirit that make San Antonio truly one of a kind” (adfedsa.org).

The award ceremony was hosted at the Witte Museum, welcoming this year’s award winners and other guests for an evening of networking and for the official presentation of awards to honorees.

“The UIW Graphic Design program has been participating in this competition for over 12 years,” shared Dr. Doris Palmeros-McManus, associate professor and program coordinator for Graphic Design. “Being recognized within the professional industry is extremely validating and inspires confidence. Students return with more vigor and eagerness to push their design skills.”

Palmeros-McManus noted that although the pursuit for awards is competitive, the most challenging part is for students to submit work with the belief that their work belongs in the industry. Seeing as this is the first competition that many of her winning students participated in, she feels very proud of their demonstration of courage and integrity. She congratulates her students for their accomplishments and encourages them to keep up their amazing work.

“The experience was absolutely incredible!” said Isabelle Shipley, senior Graphic Design student. “The support shared by everyone was truly inspiring, and simply being at the event felt like a significant accomplishment. To be chosen for a professional award as a student is an honor I will always cherish."

“During the event, I doubted my abilities and skills of designing,” shared Araceli Sanchez Robles, junior Graphic Design student. “When they mentioned my name in the Gold section, I lost my words. Receiving a Gold award for my Evergreen Rock Park project has shown me that I should be happy with how far I have come. My other project received a bronze award, but that was enough for me to say, I designed that. It was my skills and hard work that were put into those projects. I'm proud to say I'm a designer and will fully continue designing to my heart's content.”

Congratulations to this year’s UIW Graphic Design winners!

See a complete list of UIW award recipients below:

Paige Areizaga (BFA, 2025) 

Gold Student ADDY   Cheers to Change—Advertising Campaign

Gold Student ADDY   Watch Me—Advertising Campaign

Gold Student ADDY   Glaze—Website Design

Special Judges Award Craftsmanship

Amanda DeLeon (BFA, 2025) 

Silver Student ADDY Glitz—Brand Identity Campaign

Silver Student ADDY RomCon—Brand Identity Campaign

Silver Student ADDY Cultura— Publication Design

Spencer Dillree (BFA, 2025) 

Bronze Student ADDY  Crux Indoor Climbing Convention — Brand Identity Campaign

Maria Lainez (BFA, 2025) 

Silver Student ADDY Eleganza by Marquesa — Brand Identity Campaign

Silver Student ADDY Hear and Now— Brand Identity Campaign

Stephanie Melendez (BFA, 2025) 

Bronze Student ADDY  Lampara — Logo Design

Silver Student ADDY  Slay — Logo Design

Nyla Nettles (BFA, 2025) 

Bronze Student ADDY  Georama— Brand Identity Campaign

Alyssa Ramirez (BFA, 2025) 

Bronze Student ADDY  Curlture — Logo Design

Bronze Student ADDY  Curlture — Brand Identity Campaign

Isabelle Shipley (BFA, 2025) 

Bronze Student ADDY  Zero Proof— Advertising Campaign

Silver Student ADDY Saving the World with Horror— Advertising & Promotion Campaign

Maia Slowinski (BFA, 2025) 

Silver Student ADDY  Let’s Talk Trash— Brand Identity Campaign

Gold Student ADDY  Mind in Motion— Brand Identity Campaign

Best of Show   Mind in Motion— Brand Identity Campaign

Isabelle Swihart  (BFA, 2025) 

Silver Student ADDY Hi It’s Me— Brand Identity Campaign

Adriana Arellano  (BFA, 2026) 

Gold Student ADDY   Station Cafe— Brand Identity Campaign

Arianna Garza (BFA, 2026) 

Silver Student ADDY Magnolia Pancake Haus— Brand Identity Campaign

Aubrie Kaylor (BFA, 2026) 

Bronze Student ADDY  Two Bros BBQ— Book Design

Bronze Student ADDY  Bee Gee’s Tea— Packaging

Silver Student ADDY Two Bros BBQ— Brand Identity Campaign

Alyssa Lopez  (BFA, 2026) 

Silver Student ADDY Beauty— Magazine Design

Elena Moser (BFA, 2026) 

Silver Student ADDY Saru Springs— Logo Design

Silver Student ADDY Hungary Chameleon Pizza— Art Direction Campaign

Astrid Ortega  (BFA, 2026) 

Silver Student ADDY Twelve Stone— Logo Design

Silver Student ADDY Twelve Stone— Stationery Package

Abel Pedraza  (BFA, 2026) 

Silver Student ADDY Mind. Body. Soul. —Packaging

Gold Student ADDY   Orcas: Our Shared Future— App Design

Gold Student ADDY   I'm Not Your Puppet—Poster

Gold Student ADDY   Capparelli's— Stationery Package

Special Judges Award I'm Not Your Puppet—Design Process

Araceli Sanchez-Robles (BFA, 2026) 

Bronze Student ADDY    It's Not the Solution—Poster

Gold Student ADDY   Evergreeen Rock Park— Stationery Package

Leanna Segura (BFA, 2026) 

Silver Student ADDY Thai Buri Restaurant— Point of Purchase

Sarah Alvarado (BFA, 2027) 

Silver Student ADDY Famous Photographer Collage— Poster Campaign

Christalina Ochoa (BFA, 2027) 

Silver Student ADDY The Secret Lives of Bees— Publication Design

Special Judges Award The Secret Lives of Bees— Typography

Carolina Taboada (BFA, 2027) 

Gold Student ADDY   The Evolution of the Coffee Maker — Book Design

Special Judges Award The Evolution of the Coffee Maker — Illustration