June 9, 2025
AWARDS
Left to right: Students Dalton Mumma, marketing; Hailey Aaron, advertising; Alex Lopez, advertising; and Juliet Cano, advertising
SAN MARCOS, Texas — Texas State University captured the national championship in the American Advertising Federation’s (AAF) National Student Advertising Competition (NSAC), held June 6–7 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Competing against nearly 100 universities across the U.S. in a contest sponsored by AT&T, this win marks Texas State’s first national title since 2005. The team has been building momentum with runner-up finishes in 2020 and 2023, and this victory represents the culmination of years of hard work.
Individual Honors
In addition to the overall championship, several students earned top national awards:
Bolton-MacVicar-Malone Best Presenter Award: Dalton Mumma
Jeanie Ruedy Best Presentation Team: Juliet Cano, Hailey Aaron, Alex Lopez, and Dalton Mumma
Connection Q&A Award: Ryan Eldredge
A True Interdisciplinary Effort
The team brought together students from SJMC’s advertising program, the McCoy College Department of Marketing, and the School of Art and Design’s communication design program.
“There was something special about this team — their work, their energy, and their commitment,” said Dr. Michael Devlin, lead advisor and SJMC professor. “As I watched everything come together, I knew this team had the potential to win it all.”
Campaign Concept: “HEY”
The challenge, set by AT&T, tasked students with making Gen Z love the brand while using the tagline “Connecting Changes Everything.” Texas State’s campaign centered around the simple but powerful idea of “HEY” — the one word that sparks connection.
Their work showed how a single “hey” can start conversations, launch friendships, and even change lives. The campaign combined months of research, strategic insight, and creative execution to bring the idea to life across multiple platforms.
Student Voices
“To be in a room filled with nothing but ambition and passion — there was nothing left to do but show everyone what Texas State is capable of,” said Dalton Mumma, account planning director.
“This team set a new standard for Texas State advertising students,” added Ryan Eldredge, executive creative director. “They showed up every day with passion and discipline, and it led to an unforgettable campaign — and lifelong friendships.”
Faculty Mentorship
The team’s success reflects the collaborative teaching and mentorship that defines Texas State. In addition to Devlin, SJMC Advertising faculty advisors included Sage Baker, DeeAnne Vickery, Jenny Buschhorn, Clay Craig, and Rick Wilson (McCoy College).
“It wasn’t just the work that was exceptional — it was the student leadership and faculty support,” Devlin said. “You can’t do great things without great leaders and great mentors.”
2025 Texas State NSAC Team
Executive Team
Account Executive: Juliet Cano
Account Planning Director: Dalton Mumma
Media Plan Director: Hailey Aaron
Executive Creative Director: Ryan Eldredge
Account Coordinators: Annabella Easdon, Madison Weaver
Production Coordinator: Alex Beyerlein
Strategy & Planning
Account Planner & Presenter: Alex Lopez
Account Planners: Khrissalyn Maldonado, Dj Villarreal, Zach Schulte
Digital Analyst: Jayla Martinez
Creative
Lead Designer: Sonya Eberhart
Sr. Art Director: Colin Wade
Art Directors: Sydney Allen, Aeron Shipp, Molly Podber
Asst. Designer: Kailey Couillard
Sr. Copywriter: Augustus Krueger
Copywriters: Austin Barwegen, Lauren McGilvray
Jr. Creative: Emily Chu
Video Producer: Luke Fox
Media Team
Sr. Media Planner: Keegan Lanzerio
Jr. Media Planner: Reese Raley
Media Planners: Raymond Rodriguez, Maite Napoliello, Tanner Owen
📸 Featured image: Texas State’s NSAC team celebrating their national championship win in Pittsburgh.