Graphic design students win big at ADDY awards gala in Roanoke

Student entries for the ADDYs are largely chosen from the Student Graphic Design Show and Alumni Meet-&-Greet, an event put on each fall semester by graphic design faculty which connects current students with professionals who have graduated from the program. Students earning the top three spots in each category of that competition receive funds to pay entry fees required to enter their winning works in the ADDYs. The fall meet-and-greet show was started in 2016 as a way to create more exposure and networking opportunities between students and alumni and has been hailed as a win-win for alumni and students alike. John O’Connor, Assistant Professor of Graphic Design, stated, “We really appreciate the support shown by our alumni currently working in the field who donate to the program and reach out to alert us to job openings and internship opportunities.”

“Radford University has provided a continual flow of graphic design graduates into the southwest Virginia design community for years, and the longevity and diffusion of alumni into this greater community naturally speaks to the quality of the program and to our students’ ability to rise to the highest professional expectations of their field,” said Ken Smith, Associate Professor of Graphic Design.

Student works entered into the ADDY awards program have their work on display in front of professionals in the field from across the Southwest Virginia region, which can be beneficial when graduating students begin searching for employment opportunities at the close of their studies in the program.