Penn College

Penn College students, alumni earn honors in design competitions

Penn College graphic design students and alumni received honors at the American Advertising Federation of Northeast Pennsylvania’s Student American Advertising Awards competition. From left are: Jared D. Kosko, of DuBois; Luke A. Bierly, of Centre Hall; Morgan N. Keyser, of Dillsburg; Jonathan D. Straub, of Williamsport; Emily R. Kahler, of Pitman; Austin L. Fulton, of Montoursville; and MinhThu H. Nguyen, of Montoursville. (Not in attendance were award winners Nicholas J. Vetock, of Shippensburg; and Alexis M. Botek, of Pottsville.) Credit: Pennsylvania College of Technology / Penn StateCreative Commons

WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. — The graphic design talents of 10 students and two alumni from Pennsylvania College of Technology have been honored in two prestigious design competitions.

The American Advertising Federation of Northeast Pennsylvania’s Student American Advertising Awards presented Best in Show honors to Morgan N. Keyser, of Dillsburg, a 2017 graduate of Penn College’s graphic design major. Keyser was honored for her “Fade to Black” beer packaging.

Keyser also received a gold award for “Fade to Black,” as did graphic design senior Austin L. Fulton, of Montoursville, for his “Ocean Alliance” annual report, and juniors Luke A. Bierly, of Centre Hall, for his “Austin City Limits” poster, and Jared D. Kosko, of DuBois, for his “Great American Smokeout” microsite.

Keyser entered designs she produced last year as a senior, as did fellow 2017 graduate Nicholas J. Vetock, of Shippensburg, who earned a silver award for his “National Poster Retrospecticus” poster. Others capturing silvers were: seniors Alexis M. Botek, of Pottsville, for her “Shakey Graves” gig poster; MinhThu H. Nguyen, of Montoursville, for her “Beer Barn” logo; Jonathan D. Straub, of Williamsport, for his “Cold Comfort Creamery” ice cream packaging; and junior Emily R. Kahler, of Pitman, for her “Alabama Shakes” gig poster.

The Penn College group received their honors at the AAF Northeast Pennsylvania’s award ceremony, held March 3 at the Radisson Lackawanna Station Hotel in Scranton.

“With the Best of Show and nine golds and silvers, this is among our best showings at this awards competition, which speaks to the quality of the work being produced at Penn College,” said Nicholas L. Stephenson, instructor in graphic design.

All of the Penn College winners advance to the district level competition, vying with entries from Delaware; Maryland; New Jersey; New York; Pennsylvania; and Washington, D.C. A national competition follows.

AAF’s Student American Advertising Awards Competition, part of its American Advertising Awards, is a national program honoring college students and recognizing excellence in the art of advertising. The American Advertising Awards is the largest creative awards competition in the advertising industry.

Penn College students and alumni also were recognized in the annual Flux Student Design Competition sponsored by AIGA Blue Ridge, a chapter of the national AIGA organization.

Fulton, Keyser and Straub earned Flux Awards of Merit as did seniors Kyra N. Shea, of Huntingdon, and Daniel T. Wrench, of Jersey Shore; and junior Brandon M. Wolff, of Effort.

The works honored were: Fulton’s “Ocean Alliance” annual report; Keyser’s “Fade to Black” beer packaging; Straub’s “Archeology Southwest” annual report; Shea’s “Mystery Book Covers”; Wrench’s “Community Arts Center Anniversary” logo; and Wolff’s “Great American Smokeout” website.

The Flux competition celebrates the best creative work produced each year by U.S. undergraduate and graduate students. AIGA is a professional organization for design founded in 1914 as the American Institute of Graphic Arts.

Penn College graphic design students and alumni have consistently earned recognition through their submissions to regional, national and international advertising design competitions.

An exhibition of seniors’ graphic design work will be held April 27 through May 10 in The Gallery at Penn College. “Design: 2018” will feature an opening reception from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. on Friday, April 27. The exhibit and reception are free and open to the public.

To learn more about graphic design and art majors at Penn College, visit www.pct.edu/art.

For more about Penn College, a national leader in applied technology education, visit www.pct.edu, email admissions@pct.edu or call toll-free 800-367-9222.

Last Updated March 23, 2018