National Student Advertising Competition
NDSU Memorial Union, Anishinaabe Theater in Fargo, ND
There is no better way to learn about the advertising campaign process than by actually developing a campaign for a real client. The NSAC provides that opportunity for hundreds of students every year.
AAF's National Student Advertising Competition is the nation's premier college advertising competition. It provides more than 3,000 college students with "real-world" experience by requiring a strategic advertising/marketing/media campaign for a corporate sponsor. Schools are selected to present their campaigns to a panel of industry executives at the AAF National Conference held in June.
How the NSAC Works
Each year, a corporate sponsor provides an assignment or case study outlining the history of its product and current advertising situation. The case study is always candid and reflects a real world situation. Students must research the product and its competition, identify potential problem areas and devise a completely integrated communications campaign for the client. Each student team then "pitches" its campaign to a panel of judges.
The Structure of the NSAC Competitions
Regional NSAC competitions are held each spring in 15 districts throughout the U.S. The winning team in each district and possible wild card team then advances to compete on the pre-national level prior the AAF National Conference in May.
The AAF is divided into 15 districts, each containing one to five states. Each district holds a competition in April and the winning team advances to a virtual elimination. From that contest there are eight teams selected as finalists to compete at the National Conference in May. Each district appoints its own coordinator, a local business professional, to handle all details of the local competition. Professionals in the communications industry conduct judging. Judges at the national level are selected from the client and their advertising agencies. Yearly, some districts will have as many as 18 teams competing and nationwide more than 150 colleges and universities take on the NSAC challenge.
The Education Services division and the AAF Academic Committee, a group of advertising educators and practitioners from across the country, who oversee the policies and procedures of the competitions, govern the competition. These members ensure that there is a level playing field and that the competition demonstrates the highest academic and professional standards.
AAF Education Services Program
1101 Vermont Avenue, Suite 500
Washington, DC 20005
Phone: 1-800-999-2231 | Fax: (202) 898-0159
2024-2025 District 8 NSAC Coordinator
Thank you to again to our 2025 Judges
Beth Anne Mandina
Director of Creative Services
TruStage
Orlando, FL
Beth Anne Mandia is the Director of Creative Services at TruStage, where she leads the strategy, development, and execution of creative marketing. Passionate about professional development and culture building, she has expanded the creative team’s impact—introducing metrics, scalable processes, and a strategic partnership mindset. Since joining in 2017, she transformed the direct-to-consumer creative function, increasing team throughput by 19% and scaling the team from five to 35 members.
With over 25 years of experience in direct response marketing, Beth Anne has a proven track record of driving growth through strategic creative leadership. She previously led marketing at Connect America, increasing lead capture by 30% and conversion rates by 20% within a week of launch. Earlier in her career, she played a pivotal role in Nutrisystem’s transformation into a thriving direct-to-consumer brand, contributing to revenue growth from $27M to $778M. A champion of creativity in regulated industries, Beth Anne consistently elevates the role of creative services as a strategic business driver.
Maren Hamilton
Head of Social
Bend, OR
Maren is an expert in social media with over a decade of experience in bringing brands to life through compelling content. As a thought leader in social strategy, Maren has consistently driven community growth and engagement for brands like The North Face, KeVita, and Starbucks. She holds a master’s degree in Digital Media from the University of Washington and is a public speaker on social media strategy, creator marketing, and digital trends. When she’s not on TikTok, you can find her on the trail or paddling the river with her pups.
Jordan Ste. Marie
AVP, Digital Engagement Strategy
AT&T
Frisco, TX
Jordan Ste. Marie is a digital and eCommerce leader who has built his career driving transformational business change through strategic, data-driven approaches. Currently serving as AVP of Digital Engagement Strategy at AT&T, Jordan leads upper funnel digital strategy and performance, while spearheading customer growth and engagement initiatives.
His impressive career spans senior leadership roles at Walmart, Keurig Dr Pepper, General Electric, and Johnson & Johnson Consumer Health. Throughout these roles, he has demonstrated his passion for digital innovation and transformation while leading teams across digital media, eCommerce strategy, advanced analytics, and omnichannel marketing. His multifaceted background gives him unique insight into how brands can effectively connect with consumers in today's rapidly evolving digital ecosystem.
Jordan holds an MBA from the University of Virginia's Darden School of Business and a BA in Economics from the University of Michigan. He resides in Frisco, TX with his wife and two young sons.
