Rhodes Branding Wins 2024 ADDY Awards for School Marketing Campaigns
COLUMBIA, S.C., March 7, 2024 – Rhodes Branding is proud to have brought home a total of five 2024 American Advertising Awards in multiple categories – including two Special Judges’ Awards – from the American Advertising Awards Gala hosted by AAF Midlands on February 24.
The “Success Doesn’t Wait” enrollment marketing campaign developed for Texans Can Academies, a network of 13 charter high schools in Texas, earned Gold ADDY Awards in the “Internet Commercial,” “Single Spot” and “Cinematography, Single” Categories, plus a Professional Special Judges’ Award.
With a mission to serve students who have encountered obstacles in traditional high school environments, Texans Can Academies offers an accelerated path to attain a high school diploma. The campaign was designed to increase enrollment for the schools, which had struggled with recruiting students largely due to the misplaced stigma associated with taking a nontraditional route in education.
Rhodes Branding developed a messaging framework informed by real student stories of perseverance, brought to life in the campaign’s flagship video and testimonial video shorts used in the 10-month programmatic campaign.
“Rhodes truly helped our district define our vision for serving at-risk youth. With a strong professional team, they literally helped us “tell our story” through our enrollment marketing campaign,” said Texans Can Academies’ Chief of Staff Cynthia Miles. “The team intentionally listened and crafted assets that brought our story to life. Without this partnership, we would not have been able to reach the scope of students that need TCA to graduate from high school.”
The agency’s second winning creative, “Florence 3 CTE Series,” was developed to build awareness for the Career & Technical Education (CTE) programs of Florence School District 3 in South Carolina. The series showcases the health science, culinary arts, and auto mechanic pathways. It earned a Silver ADDY Award in “Online Film, Video & Sound,” as well as the Mosaic Award.
The Mosaic Award is a special judges’ award honoring companies and individuals who display their commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion through creative work, advocacy, and company-wide initiatives.
Rhodes Branding’s winning campaigns were two of 185 entries submitted to AAF Midlands’ annual competition by advertising professionals across the Midlands and Low Country (S.C.). As a chapter of the national American Advertising Federation, AAF Midlands’ award winners will move on to compete at the district level and then in the national competition.
“Every accolade we receive is not just an award; it’s a reminder of why we do what we do,” said Rhodes Branding President and Co-Founder Austin Rhodes. “It’s about giving voice to the students’ aspirations, championing our clients’ dedication to nurturing potential, and our collective commitment to crafting stories that matter. These honors are not ours alone; they belong to every student who inspires us and every client who trusts us to translate their passion into impactful narratives. Together, we’re not just achieving excellence; we’re making a difference.”
For more information about Rhodes Branding, visit rhodesbranding.com. For the full list of ADDY Award winners, visit aafmidlands.com/2024-american-advertising-awards-winners/.
