AAF Midlands hosted our annual American Advertising Awards Gala: Go For the Gold on Friday, February 20, 2026.
AAF Midlands holds the yearly competition as part of the American Advertising Federation’s American Advertising Awards, the largest advertising competition in the world. The awards represent the true spirit of creative excellence by recognizing all forms of advertising from media of all types, creative by all sizes and entrants of all levels from anywhere in the world. As a chapter of the national organization, AAF Midlands’ award winners will move on to compete at the district level and then, in the national competition.
Advertising professionals from across the Midlands submitted 133 entries into the local competition while students submitted 157 (yes, more than professionals!). AAF Midlands recognized winners in a myriad of categories:
BEST IN CATEGORY
2026 BEST OF SHOW AWARD
dustoftheground for “Raleigh Denim – The Phoenix”
STUDENT BEST OF SHOW AWARD
Alexandra Adler for “Illustrated Merchandise Campaign”
The Best in Animation/VFX
Able VFX for “SC State Fair VFX.”
The Best in Broadcast
Prisma Health for “Prisma Health Here for Good”
The Best in Local, sponsored by the University of South Carolina Division of Marketing
Soda City Films for “Wild Lights at Riverbanks Zoo”
The Best in Online/Interactive
Cyberwoven for “CMA 75th Anniversary Identity”
SPECIAL JUDGES’ AWARDS
Professional Special Judges’ Award
Richland Library for “Overdue, Fall 2025”
Flock and Rally for “Take a Bite Out of the Burg”
The University of South Carolina Division of Marketing for “The Secret Lives of Cocky”
Student Special Judges’ Award
Piper Johnson for “The Moon I Look For”
Sofia Milliner for “Lyric Video for ‘Red Right Hand’”
Savannah Mason for “Crush the Risk”
Jafet Paramo for “Animated SVAD Centennial Mark”
Margaret Pershyna for “SC Audubon Society Campaign”
PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARD
Richland Library for “Read Freely Fest Merch”
MOSAIC AWARD
The Mosaic Award honors a company or agency and their commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion through creative work, advocacy, and company-wide initiatives. Creative content must distinguish itself by amplifying underrepresented communities with depth and authenticity.
The recipient of the Mosaic Award is selected—not through numerical scoring—but through a holistic evaluation of how these values are clearly and powerfully reflected in the work.
Congratulations to The University of South Carolina Division of Marketing for “Remembering Desegregation at USC.” Watch the full ten-minute piece here.
Professional Awards
Self-Promotion
Advertising Industry Self-Promotion Online/Interactive/ Virtual Reality
GOLD | Danielle Salley Creative for “Doom Board.”
Corporate Social Responsibility
Integrated Media, Corporate Social Responsibility Campaign
GOLD | Flock and Rally for “Palmetto Pride – SC Sweep.”
Cross-Platform
Cross Platform Integrated Advertising Campaign, Consumer Campaign, Regional/National
SILVER | Prisma Health for “Prisma Health Here For Good.”
Cross Platform Integrated Brand Identity Campaign, Local or Regional/National
GOLD | Flock and Rally for “Take a Bite Out of the Burg”.
GOLD | Cyberwoven for CMA 75th Anniversary Identity.
Elements of Advertising
Film and Video, Cinematography, Single
GOLD | dustoftheground for “Raleigh Denim – The Phoenix.”
Film and Video, Animation, Special Effects or Motion Graphics
GOLD | Able VFX for “South Carolina State Fair 2025.”
GOLD | Able VFX for “CashPop – Where the Light Takes You.”
GOLD | Soda City Films for “Wild Lights at Riverbanks Zoo.”
GOLD | Able VFX for “Raleigh Denim – The Phoenix.”
Sound, Sound Design – Single
SILVER | Soda City Films for “Wild Lights at Riverbanks Zoo.”
Film and Video, Video Editing
SILVER | dustoftheground for “Raleigh Denim – The Phoenix”
Visual, Illustration, Single
GOLD | Richland Library for “Overdue, Fall 2025.”
Film, Video and Sound
Branded Content & Entertainment For Online Film, Single Entry – More than :60 seconds
SILVER | The Pierson Collective for “Inside the Collaboration.”
Cinema Advertising, In-Theatre Commercials
SILVER | Prisma Health for “Prisma Health Here for Good.”
Internet Commercial, Single Spot – Any Length
GOLD | dustoftheground for “Raleigh Denim – The Phoenix.”
SILVER | South Carolina Education Lottery for “BetterU – Nature – Jessie.”
Internet Commercial – Campaign
SILVER | Experience Columbia SC for “ECSC 2025 Ambassadors.”
Television Advertising, Local, Single Spot
GOLD | Flock and Rally for “South Carolina State Fair 2025”
SILVER | Soda City Films for “Wild Lights at Riverbanks Zoo.”
Television Advertising, Regional/National, Single Spot – Up to two minutes
GOLD | South Carolina Education Lottery for “Cash Pop – Where The Light Takes You.”
Television Advertising, Regional/National – Campaign
SILVER | Prisma Health for “Prisma Health Here for Good.”
SILVER | South Carolina Education Lottery for “BetterU – Sports Stories TV.”
Online/Interactive
Social Media – Single Execution
SILVER | University of South Carolina Division of Marketing for “A Gamecock’s Favorite Colors”
Social Media – Campaign
SILVER | University of South Carolina Division of Marketing for “The Secret Lives of Cocky.”
Consumer Websites
SILVER | Cyberwoven for “The Wright Museum Website.”
Websites – Microsites
SILVER | Cyberwoven for “CMA 75th Anniversary Identity.”
Public Service
Public Service Collateral – Brand Elements
SILVER | Flock and Rally for “5210 South Carolina”
Public Service Television
GOLD | South Carolina Education Lottery for “Played Out Platitudes TV.”
Public Service Collateral – Brand Elements
GOLD | Rhodes Branding for “JoltEDU.”
SILVER | Chernoff Newman for “Dangerous by Design Ring Toss.”
Public Service Collateral – Brochure/Sales Kit
SILVER | Chernoff Newman for “National Recovery Month Toolkit.”
Sales and Marketing
Collateral Material, Special Event Material – Card/Invitation/Announcement Single Unit
SILVER | Experience Columbia SC for their “2025 Holiday Card.”
Direct Marketing – Specialty Advertising
SILVER | Richland Library for “Read Freely Fest Merchandise.”
Student Awards
Cross-Platform
Cross-Platform Integrated Consumer Campaign
SILVER | Ava Wojtczak, Sara Cole, Aubrey Angle, and Carolina Willis for “Charleston Mix.”
SILVER | Jillian Morse and Ben Antonio for “Brackish Bowties.”
Cross-Platform Integrated Brand Identity Campaign
GOLD | Savannah Mason for “Crush The Risk.”
SILVER | Angelo Mutuc for “Fantastic Four Fest Design System.”
Elements of Advertising
Elements of Advertising, Artificial Intelligence – Creative Element
GOLD | Elissa Myers for “Celka, Packaging.”
SILVER | Lake Killman for “Bubble, Golden Hour.”
SILVER | Abby Robisch for “Poppi – Soda, but Better.”
SILVER | Kyleigh McComish for “Balenciaga Winter 2025 Announcement.”
Elements Of Advertising, Animation or Special Effects
GOLD | Isabela Chabrier-Diaz and Lauren Hansborough for “Tiger Burn.”
GOLD | Sofia Milliner for Lyric Video for “Red Right Hand.”
GOLD | Jefet Paramo for “Animated SVAD Centennial Mark.”
Elements Of Advertising, Illustration – Single
GOLD | David Olsen for “Beer Case illustration and Type.”
SILVER | Piper Johnson for “A Quiet Orbit.”
Elements Of Advertising, Illustration – Campaign
GOLD | Margaret Pershyna for “SC Audubon Society Campaign.”
GOLD | Alexandra Adler for “Illustrated Merchandise Campaign.”
SILVER | Emma Laing for “Beidler Forest Merch, Audubon SC.”
SILVER | Alexandra Adler for “USC Lacrosse Illustrations.”
Elements of Advertising, Art Direction – Single
SILVER | Lake Killman for “Bubble, Golden Hour.”
Elements of Advertising, Digital Creative Technology
GOLD | SVAD GD+I, Interaction Design Team for “Augmented Reality Scavenger Hunt.”
Elements Of Advertising, Still Photography, Black & White-Single
GOLD | Olivia Messer for “Shh…it’s raining.”
Elements Of Advertising, Logo Design
SILVER | Elssa Myers for Celka Logo.
Film, Video and Sound
Television Advertising – Single
SILVER | SGTV Creative Staff – Fiona Schreier, Jonathan Yi, Alex Fridley, Tyler Perrone, Samuel Candor for “MediaFest Commercial.”
Online/Interactive
Advertising and Promotion – Campaign
SILVER | Tristan Bonomo for “HookNHide Campaign.”
Social Media – Single Execution
SILVER | Tristan Bonomo for “HookNHide Facebook Advertisement.”
Social Media – Campaign
SILVER | Madison Chiang for “University of South Carolina Fun Facts.”
Websites
Gold | Lauren Hansborough for her Portfolio Site.
Out of Home and Ambient Media
Poster-single
Gold | Alexandra Adler for “Audubon, Beidler Forest Poster.”
Outdoor Transit, Outdoor Board
Gold | Alexandra Adler for “Reconnect with Nature, Audubon SC.”
Outdoor Transit, Mass Transit
SILVER | Margaret Pershyna for “Warbler Week, Audubon SC.”
Out-of-Home Site
Gold | Rachael Barkoff for “Up to Bat.”
Sales and Marketing
Collateral Material, Publication Design – Cover
SILVER | Piper Johnson for “The Moon I Look For.”
SILVER | Matthew Hitchcock for “Name, Image, Likeness.”
Collateral Material, Publication Design – Magazine Design
Gold | Graphic Design and Illustration Studio ARTS 345 for “Unlocked: Inside The MFA program.”
Direct Marketing
SILVER | Jessica Standerwick for “Audubon SC, Sticker Sheet.”
Sales Promotion – Packaging
SILVER | Chaira Jeanty for “Cuppa – Packaging.”