POPLARVILLE, Miss. — Pearl River Community College Graphic Design Technology students delivered an outstanding performance at the American Advertising Awards ceremony held Saturday, February 21, 2026, earning a total of 10 ADDY Awards, including three Gold ADDYs, six Silver ADDYs, and one Judge’s Choice Award.
The American Advertising Awards, hosted by the American Advertising Federation, represent the largest and most competitive advertising competition in the United States. The ADDYs recognize excellence in creativity, strategy, and execution across professional and student categories.
PRCC students earned more awards than any other participating institution, highlighting the continued strength and competitive excellence of the college’s design program.
“Design is not decoration — it is communication with purpose,” said Corey Guerra, Instructor of Design at PRCC. “When our students compete at this level, they’re not just creating visually appealing work; they’re solving problems, shaping messages, and influencing how people think and respond.
“These awards reflect more than talent. They reflect growth in critical thinking, strategy, and professional discipline. Our students are learning that design has the power to impact businesses, communities, and culture — and they’re rising to that responsibility.”
Gold and Silver ADDY recipients will advance to the district 7 competition, where their work will compete against top student entries from multiple states.
Award Recipients with Their Entries
Ariona Anderson continued her streak of earning an ADDY, having received a Silver Student ADDY for her integrated advertising campaign “Add to Cart? Add to Waste” at the chapter level. She then earned a Silver ADDY at the District 7 award ceremony, allowing her to advance to the National Student Advertising Competition (NSAC), where she presented alongside top student creatives nationwide. Currently, Anderson works as a graphic designer at PRCC and will begin work on a bachelor’s degree at William Carey University in the fall.
“Competing in the ADDYs has shown me what design looks like outside of the classroom,” said Anderson. “It gave me the chance to network, receive recognition, and see the level of work being created by professionals.
“Being in that environment made everything feel more real. It pushed me to take my work more seriously and refine the small details. It also reminded me that communication through design is powerful and always evolving. Seeing that firsthand made me even more excited about being part of this field.”
Internet Girl (Silver ADDY - Elements of Advertising: Illustration)
DIY Event Poster (Gold ADDY - Elements of Advertising: Illustration)
DIY Advertisement (Silver ADDY - Sales & Marketing Social Event Materials)
The Passenger Poster (Gold ADDY - Poster)
Delanie Dublin previously won a Gold Student ADDY and Judge’s Choice Award for “No Revival”, an integrated advertising campaign at the 2025 MS Gulf Coast Chapter awards. She plans to begin a bachelor’s degree program in the fall.
Her entry, Do Your Part, earned a Silver ADDY in the Out of Home & Ambient Media Campaign category.
Current student, Sheena Gingrich of Hattiesburg earned her first two ADDYs with Forgotten Spaces (Silver ADDY - Integrated Advertising Campaign) and No Kid Hungry (Gold ADDY - Outdoor & Transit Advertising).
“Competing in the ADDYs has helped me grow by pushing me to work even harder for the future I want in advertising,” said Gingrich. “The experience has helped me become more confident in presenting my work and motivated me to continue improving my skills.”
Josh Webster of Kiln earned a Silver ADDY for his Umi Miami Logo in the Elements of Advertising category and a Judge’s Choice Award for Logo Design. He owns JW Designs.
Hank Wilson of Purvis is in his second semester of the program. He won a Silver ADDY for his Maze Runner Book Cover in the Sales & Marketing Publication Design Cover category.
The awards underscore the strength and growing reputation of PRCC’s design program and highlight the college’s commitment to preparing students for professional excellence in the creative industry. Through hands-on projects, critique-based learning, and industry-aligned standards, students graduate with both creative confidence and strategic skill — prepared to make meaningful contributions to the workforce and the communities they serve.
Graphic Design Program at PRCC
The Graphic Design Technology program at Pearl River Community College fosters creativity, innovation, and professional excellence. Through a dynamic curriculum and hands-on learning experiences, PRCC equips students with the skills and knowledge to excel in the diverse field of graphic design. The mission is to cultivate versatile professionals who can effectively communicate ideas visually, adapt to industry changes, and contribute meaningfully to society through their artistry and expertise.
The program was developed and is being taught by Guerra, a graphic designer, illustrator, and fine artist with training focused on both traditional and digital media. Originally trained in studio art with a deep focus on oil painting utilizing the tradition of the old masters, Guerra expanded into the digital realm when earning his BA in Digital Design from Tulane University and an MFA in Media Design from Full Sail University. His graduate education and thesis focused on branding and brand identity design across various forms of digital media.
Guerra’s design firm also took home several awards this year, including 2026 Best of Print, Judge’s Choice for Elements of Advertising Illustration, and a Gold ADDY for Elements of Advertising Illustration. He received Silver ADDYs in Sales & Marketing Card, Invitation, Announcement, Branded Content & Entertainment, and Elements of Advertising Illustration.
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