The reception at the 2012 ADDY awards. (Hafsah Mijinyawa/The Washtenaw Voice)
On a chilly February night, a few hundred of Ann Arbor’s elite within the visual arts industry packed into Babs’ Underground Lounge to socialize with and honor some of the best designers Ann Arbor’s local design industry has to offer.
And once again, Washtenaw Community College students came away with a lot of hardware, winning three golds and three silvers in the annual competition. The gold winners: George O’Donovan, Jennifer Melchi and Christine Moran, all of Ann Arbor. The silver winners: Krystal Burrell, of Romulus; Robyn Charles, of Pinckney; and Darlene Hawver, of Ann Arbor.
The ADDYs – the print and interactive design world’s equivalent to the Emmy Awards – are sponsored by the Ann Arbor Ad Club. Every year, students and interns who are not yet employed in the advertising industry have the opportunity to submit work to any number of categories, for the chance to take home a prestigious ADDY – a marked accomplishment within the design and advertising industries. The event was held on Feb. 9.
“I’ve been an artist since I could pick up a pencil and I always wanted to apply my artistic talents to the real world,” said Moran, 26, who holds a bachelor’s degree in marketing from Michigan Technological University, “and last Thursday night I finally felt like it’s become a reality
“WCC has exposed me more to real-world experience than my four-year university ever exposed me; I definitely have more confidence about my career in general after enrolling as a student at WCC. I graduate in May and my career aspirations are limitless.”
Kristine Willimann, faculty adviser and instructor in WCC’s graphic design program, finds student successes at the Ann Arbor ADDYs a welcome sign of her students’ future reception into the design workforce.
“Winning ADDYs indicates that what students learn to do in our courses and program here at Washtenaw is in line with industry expectations,” Willimann said. “It validates the kind of talent we are turning out.”
Winners came away heartened about their prospects in the workplace after leaving Washtenaw’s classrooms.
“The close-knit community of talented students and instructors in the visual arts program at WCC makes it easy to succeed,” said Hawver, 30. “I would like to extend a sincere thanks to Kristine Willimann for encouraging me to submit my work.
“As a student, you need validation to reassure yourself that you’re indeed on the right path. Receiving an ADDY and being included in a group of such smart and creative minds is that validation, and more.”
Washtenaw has had a strong showing in the ADDY competition for the past four years. Previous winners include a gold by Maggie Reuter, of Ann Arbor, and a silver by Sarah Stosick, of Dexter, both former award-winning designers with The Washtenaw Voice.
