Hands-on learning turns creative talent into industry-recognized achievement at Chattanooga State Community College. 

On Feb. 26, 2026, 10 graphic design students from ChattState’s Digital Media Design & Production program earned 16 awards at the American Advertising Federation’s annual American Advertising Awards, a prestigious competition recognizing excellence in advertising and design. 

The students collectively brought home two Gold ADDYs, two Judges’ Choice awards, and 12 Silver ADDYs, highlighting the creative talent of the College’s Graphic Arts Technology and Digital Media Design & Production students and faculty. 

The American Advertising Awards are among the advertising industry’s largest and most competitive creative competitions, celebrating outstanding work from both professionals and students. This year, more than 5,600 designs were submitted by students nationwide. 

Hands-On Classrooms Lead to Industry Success 

ChattState emphasizes hands-on learning, preparing students to apply technical skills and creative thinking to real-world projects. Through coursework and portfolio-building exercises, students gain critical design experience that mirrors what they will encounter in the professional industry. 

That preparation showed on the awards stage, where ChattState students once again stood out among regional competitors. This marks the second consecutive year that ChattState students have earned the majority of awards in the student category of the competition, demonstrating the program’s consistent impact and growing reputation in the design community. 

“The prompts may start in the classroom, but the students are the ones who bring them to life,” said Emily Bassett, Graphic Arts Technology instructor. “Their creativity, dedication, and technical skill are what led to these 16 ADDY Awards.” 

Cultivating Creativity in Chattanooga 

Among the awards, Gold ADDYs represent the highest-scoring entries in a category and automatically advance to the district-level competition, while Judges’ Choice awards highlight work that made a particularly strong impression on professional creative directors serving as judges. 

For students, these honors signal something even bigger: readiness for the creative workforce. 

“The ADDY Awards showcase the hard work, technical skill, and vision of the next generation of designers,” said Professor Michael Largent, Lead Faculty and Program Advisor of the Graphic Arts Technology concentration of the Digital Media Design & Production major. 

A Launchpad for Creative Careers 

For aspiring designers, these awards build résumés and signal to employers that students are capable of producing professional-level creative work. 

At Chattanooga State, that’s exactly the goal. By combining technical instruction, industry-relevant tools, and real-world design challenges, the Digital Media Design & Production program equips students with the skills needed to succeed in advertising, graphic design, digital media, and related creative fields. 

“As an educator, it is a privilege to watch students transition from the classroom to recognized ADDY award-winning visual communicators,” Largent said. “These accolades aren't just trophies; they are a testament to each student’s readiness to enter the professional industry.” 

For the students who took home awards this year, the message is clear: their creative journeys are just beginning. And at ChattState, those journeys start with opportunity and lead to recognition on some of the industry’s biggest stages.