Awards

While recognition isn’t the reason behind what we do, it’s an amazing feeling to showcase projects and campaigns in front of your peers. The American Advertising Awards is the gold standard for creative excellence.

AAF Roanoke honors the best of this region annually through the Western Virginia Advertising Awards, part of the national American Advertising Awards. Winners at the local level have gone on to win district and national Addys, plus plenty of bragging rights.

The American Advertising Awards is the industry’s largest and most representative competition, attracting more than 25,000 entries every year. Awards honor advertising excellence in all media, including online, non-traditional, print, broadcast, and out-of-home. It is the first level of a three-level national competition that is the advertising industry’s largest.

AAF Roanoke’s Western Virginia American Advertising Awards competition is the first of a three-tier, national competition. Concurrently, across the country, local entrants vie to win ADDY Awards—recognition as the very best creative work in their markets. At the second tier, local ADDY winners compete against winners from other local clubs in one of 15 district competitions. District ADDY winners are then forwarded to the third tier, the national stage of the American Advertising Awards. Entry into the local competition is the first step toward winning a National ADDY. 

The awards cycle follows the calendar year with the opportunity to submit work, beginning in November and ending after the start of the year. Judging is conducted by an out of market panel and is celebrated at the annual awards gala in late February/early March.

AAF Roanoke Special Awards

Each year, AAF Roanoke encourages you to nominate your peers for doing amazing work. Each of these awards is designed to recognize an individual or company for work done in the past year.

Advertising Person of the Year

Recognizes outstanding contributions to the field of advertising, marketing and design in Western Virginia. The recipient of this award embodies the professionalism, dedication and creativity that are at the heart of the advertising profession. This is NOT a lifetime achievement award, and is designed to recognize recent accomplishments within the LAST CALENDAR YEAR. Nominees may be in the creative, marketing, advertising management, media, or other relevant advertising fields. Membership in Roanoke Advertising Federation is not required.

Vendor of the Year

The AAF Roanoke Vendor of the Year Award recognizes exceptional companies in advertising, marketing, and design in Western Virginia. This prestigious award celebrates recent accomplishments within the past calendar year and highlights the best and brightest in professionalism, dedication, and creativity. Membership in the Roanoke Advertising Federation is not required for nomination.

Shine Award

Recognizes the outstanding work by an organization or individual in the area of community or public service. The award is limited to community service efforts completed in the past year. Nominations of an individual or organization is not limited to membership with AAF Roanoke.

2 Under 32: Rising Stars in Advertising

Recognizes emerging talent in Roanoke that recognizes the brightest young minds in the advertising space. This initiative consists of two distinct categories: the 2 Under 32: Advertising Professional (aged 32 and Under) and the 2 Under 32: College Student in Advertising.

National Student Ad Competition

AAF Roanoke has been the host club for the district National Student Advertising Competition (NSAC) and club members regularly participate in the annual event. Student clubs from our region have won at the district and national level in recent years, including Liberty’s 1st place finish in 2023 and runner-up finish in 2022.