First-time Gordon Competitors Take Home Third Place in National Student Advertising Competition

By Nikki Batson ’24 

Last weekend Gordon College hosted the National Student Advertising Competition (NSAC) for the New England district and placed third. Gordon’s competing team was comprised of 10 members of the Gordon College Business Club and led by Professor Greg Smith (business and marketing). This was Gordon’s first year participating as a competitor and host.

The NSAC, organized through the American Advertising Federation, is the premier college advertising competition. It provides more than 2,000 college students the real-world experience of creating a strategic marketing campaign for a corporate client. 

This year’s client, job-search site Indeed, challenged competing schools to create a marketing and promotional plan to help Indeed reach members of Generation Z. Other New England schools, including Roger Williams University, The University of Hartford, Johnson & Wales University and Endicott College, traveled to Gordon to present their cases to three judges. 

“It’s easy to lead a team when they are as capable as this one was,” said Smith. “I’m not surprised they did so well as the first team from Gordon to compete in this competition.” 

Team Gordon created a marketing plan around the central idea that members of Generation Z want to find careers, not just short-term jobs. With promotional plans like conventions, influencer sponsorships and even sending one lucky sweepstakes winner to space, their campaign slogan, “Careers Launch Here,” grabbed the judges’ attention. 

“Competing in NSAC this year helped me learn a lot about how marketing can be used in the real world. I’m really proud of how we performed with it being our first year, and I loved how I got to work with a team and grow in those relationships along the way,” said participating student Naomi Nicholson ’25.

Students throughout the country join and compete in NSAC and AAF competitions to get real-world experience, network with industry professionals and build their resumes. Each competing team brought creativity and originality, all while creating professional cases for Indeed. 

Pictured back row (left to right): Krysten McCartney ’23, Clara Signs ’25, Professor Greg Smith, Kristen Deiley ’25, Tyler Nichols ’24 and Brenndan Teeter ’26; front row (left to right): Julia Cappadona ’24, Gabby Bergstrom ’24, Naomi Nicholson ’25, Nikki Batson ’24 and Raquel Mapp ’23.