Before social distancing became a way of life, team Villa had the chance to celebrate the hard work of local advertising professionals at the 2020 ADDY Awards. As always, several of Villa Maria’s graphic design students submitted their work to be critiqued alongside the work of students from other local institutions. Twenty awards were given to students; 11 students from Villa walked away with a total of 8 awards.
Villa’s 2020 Student ADDY Award winners are as follows:
Silver ADDY Winners
Out-of-Home & Ambient Media – Heathers Reimagined for 1960s
- Emily Kaczynski, ‘20
Integrated Campaigns – Consumer Campaign – Cast Party Exhibition
- Henny Zack, ’22
Henny is the only student whose freshman-year work has won an ADDY Award since at least 2003.
Integrated Brand Identity Campaigns – Prelude: Senior Design Exhibit
- Francesca Bubb, ‘19
- Shelby Braidich, ‘19
- Ana Echeverria, ‘19
Cross Platform > Integrated Brand Identity Campaign – Beehive Café
- Ana Echeverria, ‘19
Cross Platform > Integrated Brand Identity Campaign – More Than a Number Campaign
- Maria Schiltz, ‘21
- Jordan Santalucia, ‘20
- Amanda Sader, ‘20
- Jose Inchausty, ‘22
Gold ADDY Winners
Cross Platform > Integrated Brand Identity Campaign – Calle Rica Food Truck
- Francesca Bubb, ‘19
Sales & Marketing > Collateral Material > Publication Design – SKALD 2019
- Emily Kaczinski, ’20
- Michael Morganti, ‘20
- Lindsay Neilson, Graphic Design
Best of Show > Integrated Brand Identity Campaign – Calle Rica Food Truck
- Francesca Bubb, ‘19
Julie Zack, the 2020 Levy-Osborne Award winner, with Bob Grizanti
While the student showing was undoubtedly impressive, the biggest award of the evening went to Julie Zack, an assistant professor of graphic design at Villa. Zack was named this year’s winner of the Levy Osborn Award for Excellence in Communications.
According to AAF Buffalo, this award was given to Julie her lifetime achievement, outstanding service and original creative thinking that is sure to propel the advertising industry in Buffalo forward for years to come.
“An award of this magnitude cannot be understated in the WNY advertising community,” said Brian Emerson, vice president for enrollment at Villa Maria, and one of the two people who nominated Julie for this award. “This is a tremendous and much deserved honor for Professor Zack.” Bob Grizanti, chair of Villa’s art department and second nominator, says, “I’ve known Julie as a friend and colleague for a long time. She’s a fantastic designer, she’s thoughtful, hard-working and well-respected professor at Villa Maria College.”Julie’s current and former students echoed this sentiment. Former student Adina Pera, who is now a senior project manager at Crowley-Webb, believes that Julie is really dedicated to seeing people around her succeed. Current students Monica Bates and Lindsay Neilson agree that she is respectful, patient, an asset to all students and downright hilarious.
“Everyone says how talented she is, how easy she is to work with, and how fun she is to be around,” said Frank Conjerti, of AAF Buffalo’s Board of Directors. “This is all true, but the best testament to why Julie has won this award is her students. I’ve had the pleasure of working with a number of designers that have gone through her program and I can honestly say they’re all well prepared and thoughtful. There are villa grads at literally every agency in town and I think Julie is the reason why.”
Julie has served as a full-time faculty member in graphic design at Villa Maria since 2006. In addition, she works as a freelance designer, and has been contracted by some notable businesses, including Larkin Development Company, Fix-a-Bull, Buffalo Ski Center and more. Previously, Julie worked as a designer at BrandEven and Great Arrow, both in Buffalo, New York. She earned a Bachelor of Fine Art in Graphic Design in SUNY Fredonia and a Master of Art in Advertising Design from Syracuse University.
“With this award, I’m assured [that I am in a position to empower others] and incredibly grateful,” said Zack. “Communication is connection, and I’ve been extremely fortunate to join with so many dynamic people on an individual, grassroots level, sharing energy and getting excited together to make stuff, print stuff, sell stuff, and win stuff. I’m an idealist who thrives in a smaller environment—one that elevates the highest and most joyful version of others. That keeps me smiling.”
Julie Zack with her daughter, Henny Zack, a sophomore in Villa’s graphic design program and a 2020 ADDY winner.
