Alabama A&M Earns Four Collegiate Advertising Awards Honors

Alabama A&M University brought home four honors at this year’s Collegiate Advertising Awards, including three Gold awards and one Bronze, underscoring the University’s continued momentum in strategic marketing, storytelling, and advancement initiatives.

The Collegiate Advertising Awards is one of the nation’s largest and most competitive programs recognizing excellence in higher education marketing and advertising. Entries are judged by a national panel of industry professionals based on creativity, message effectiveness, production quality, and overall impact. The program draws thousands of submissions annually from colleges, universities, and educational organizations across the country.

Alabama A&M’s 2026 honors include:

Category: Fundraising Campaign
Gold Award – Alabama A&M University (150th Anniversary Campaign)
Silver Award - Florida A&M University (Tallahassee, FL)

Category: Direct Mail 
Gold Award - Alabama A&M University (150th Anniversary Fundraising Acknowledgement)
Silver Award - Ferris State University (Big Rapids, MI)

Category: Social Media Marketing – Series
Gold Award – Alabama A&M University (Rivalry Week Series)
Silver Award - University of New Haven (West Haven, CT) 

Category: Outdoor/Transit Advertising
Gold Award - Belmont University (Nashville, TN)
Silver Award - Ferris State University (Big Rapids, MI)
Bronze Award – Alabama A&M University (Birmingham Transit Campaign)

Competing in the 5,001–10,000 student category, Alabama A&M stood out among peer institutions for campaigns that blended creativity with measurable engagement and impact. The awards reflect a year of coordinated storytelling and advancement tied to the University’s historic 150th anniversary celebration. 

“It is always exciting to have AAMU recognized among leading peers in the area of brand elevation," said Jamal Ali, VP for Marketing, Communications, and Advancement. "From the cultural resonance of the Rivalry Week Series to the intentional design behind our 150th Anniversary Campaign and acknowledgement program, and the visibility created through our Birmingham transit advertising, each effort played a role in telling Alabama A&M’s story at a national level,” 

From high-impact digital content to donor engagement strategies and bold public-facing campaigns, AAMU’s work demonstrated both range and consistency across platforms. Aaron Thompson, Assistant VP for Advancement Branding credits the achievement to a broad collective effort.

“This honor belongs to our entire Marketing, Communications, and Advancement team, who worked tirelessly throughout the anniversary year to elevate the AAMU brand,” Thompson said. “It also reflects the passion of our alumni and supporters, whose engagement and generosity fueled a truly record-setting campaign. Together, we showed what’s possible when strategy, creativity, and Bulldog pride move in the same direction.”

With this year’s four honors, Alabama A&M University now holds 13 Collegiate Advertising Awards trophies, building on its award-winning performances in 2024 and 2025 and reinforcing its sustained national recognition for marketing and advancement excellence.