MIAD students sweep 2025 United Adworkers Showcase Awards
The United Adworkers, Milwaukee’s premier organization dedicated to advertising, marketing and creative excellence throughout and beyond Wisconsin, awarded all of 2025’s Student Showcase Awards to current or recently graduated MIAD students.
The first place Gold Award went to Sarah Madden ’24 for her senior exhibition project Bugbite, a marketing and packaging campaign and app for bug-based eco-friendly nutrition bars.
“I’m so grateful to have received this recognition!” says Madden. “Creating Bugbite was such an exciting, challenging and rewarding process and it means a lot to see it honored. Thank you to United Adworkers!”
The four MIAD Finalists and their awarded projects were:
- Current student Lauren Blood ’25, for Conversation magazine, a collection of experimental creative writing centered around two imagined friends that was completed in MIAD’s Publication Design course.
- Sammi Micklewright ’24, for senior exhibition project Koda
- Abigail Tessmer, ’24, for senior exhibition project Spark Plug
- Brady Vanderhart ’24, for senior exhibition project Rally
While a student, Gold awardee Madden also designed the branded wall for M3 Insurance and did design work for the Pettit National Ice Center through the MIAD Lubar Innovation Center. She is currently a junior graphic designer for Creative Solutions in Chicago.
The United Adworkers 99 Show and awards ceremony is attended by hundreds of advertising and marketing professionals annually.
Learn more about MIAD’s Communication Design major. Visit MIAD.
News
A Tribute to Horicon Works: Barany’s Mural Celebrates Products, History and Community
A new mural at John Deere’s Horicon Works is bringing the company’s history to life, and it was created by MIAD professor and alum James Barany ’92 (Drawing).
Containment Breach Selected for ICON13 Motion Commotion Screening
Parker Deutsch ’26 (Illustration – Animation Track) recently had the animated short “Containment Breach” selected for screening in Motion Commotion, part of ICON13, the Illustration Conference. The showcase features innovative animation and motion-based work from illustrators and animators across the field.
MAKE! Participants Reflect on Creativity, Community and Growth
Alicia Zapata, a second-year MAKE! participant from Chicago and a K-8 art teacher at Waters Elementary School in Chicago, IL, Kelly Wendel, an eighth-year participant and art teacher at Nicolet High School in Glendale, WI and Gail Kowsky, a second-year participant and sixth- and seventh-grade art teacher in New Brighton, Minnesota, reflected on what they gained from this year’s program.
Meet Maya Koehn and 2026 Senior Exhibition Project L’Atelier
Maya Koehn ‘26 (Interior Architecture and Design) is a President’s (Honor) List student from Sheboygan, Wis., currently employed as a Junior Designer at Direct Supply.
Meet Kaitlyn Powers and 2026 Senior Exhibition Project Solenne
Kaitlyn Powers ’26 (Illustration major; Communication Design minor) is a self-described mixed media illustrator, graphic designer and textile artist. She is also a President’s (Honor) List student from Appleton, Wis.