AWARD School has announced its top students for 2019 in each state at its graduation ceremonies in each capital city

In an AWARD School first this year, the course expanded beyond major cities to include students from the Northern Territory, and regional and rural Victoria. And in another first, AWARD launched a new campaign around the theme, Only Ideas Wanted, aimed at increasing diversity of applicants to the 2019 AWARD School program, and improving accessibility to the advertising industry as a career option for everyone.

The campaign and course expansion were a major success, triggering an overwhelming response to the call for applications from the country’s best and brightest undiscovered creative talent. 212 applicants were successful, an 11% increase compared with 2018.

Gold Pencils for state top students were awarded to:

• Angel McMullan (NSW)
• Hannah Lawson (VIC)
• Annastasia Albouze (QLD)
• Justin Borromei (WA)
• Alysha Menzel (SA/NT).

These five state winners are now in the running to be named National Top Student and will have their books reviewed by an international super jury. The finalists will be flown to Sydney for the national winner announcement on August 8.

Victoria AWARD School Head and Cummins&Partners creative director, Sarah McGregor, said that judges were looking for “fresh ideas that resonated, created with relevance to the environment in which they were appearing. In our multi-channel world, this last point is particularly important and is a skill we emphasise in the course.”

West Australian School Head and Meerkats creative director,, Rikki Burns said that while there were certainly “amazing pieces” in the top-rated folios, “the judges commented there were many stand-out ideas across the board, a few of which they could imagine doing well at international award shows.”

Second place was awarded to:

• Callum Foot (NSW)
• Michelle See-Tho (VIC)
• Henry Coughlin (QLD)
• Ellen Treharne (WA)
• Loren Jolly (SA/NT)

Third place was awarded to:

• Donna Kalish (NSW)
• Leighton Howindt (VIC)
• Kimberley Bridle (QLD)
• Simon Mullins (WA).

The 2019 AWARD School National Winner will be announced in Sydney on August 8 at Facebook Australia HQ. This year’s state winners will be flown to Sydney courtesy of Facebook for the national announcement, and will also attend an exclusive workshop and dinner.

AWARD and The Communications Council would like to thank Clerehan Pty Ltd founder and principal, and AWARD Committee member, Esther Clerehan, for providing this year’s national prize, the winner of which will fly to Las Vegas to attend the 2019 London International Awards Creative LIAisons.

Full List of 2019 Winners

2019 AWARD School State Top Students

NEW SOUTH WALES

Top Students

• Angel McMullan – Gold Pencil
• Callum Foot
• Donna Kalish

Top 10 (in alphabetical order)

• Daniel Craig
• Laura Grimshaw
• Lawrence Holland
• Seamus McAlary
• Samuel Raftl
• Jessica Sweeney
• Anthony Todorovitch

Brief 5 (Mobile) Winner: Laura Grimshaw

VICTORIA

Top Students

• Hannah Lawson – Gold Pencil
• Michelle See-Tho
• Leighton Howindt

Top 10 (in alphabetical order)

• John Barrett
• Angus Benger
• Nicola Berto
• Matt Gardener
• Tania Kyriakou
• Sarah Skotnicki
• Sarah Stahle

Brief 5 (Mobile) Winner: Leighton Howindt

QUEENSLAND

Top Students

• Annastasia Albouze – Gold Pencil
• Henry Coughlin
• Kimberley Bridle

Brief 5 (Mobile) Winner: Amelia Barker

WESTERN AUSTRALIA

Top Students

• Justin Borromei – Gold Pencil
• Ellen Treharne
• Simon Mullins

Brief 5 (Mobile) Winner: Simon Mullins

SOUTH AUSTRALIA/NORTHERN TERRITORY

Top Student

• Alysha Menzel – Gold Pencil
• Loren Jolly

Brief 5 (Mobile) Winner: Susanna Haefner

Top Tutor Agencies – Gold Sharpeners

NEW SOUTH WALES

Roy Leibowitz (Innocean Worldwide Australia)
Chris Wilson (Innocean Worldwide Australia)
Josie Fox (Special Group)
Harry Stanford (Special Group)
Nick Plomp (Special Group)

VICTORIA

John Pantzopoulos (CHE Proximity Melbourne)
Steve Sheldon (CHE Proximity Melbourne)
Bec Griffiths (DDB Group Melbourne)
Rebecca Morriss (DDB Group Melbourne)