The Cal State Fullerton Associated Students Inc. marketing, communication and design department earned eight awards in the Association of College Unions International national “Steal This Idea” competition, further cementing its reputation of excellence in graphic design, marketing and video production.
“Steal This Idea” invites college union organizations to showcase their most innovative initiatives from the past year. The competition received more than 300 entries from across the country. ASI’s MCD team, comprising a full-service creative team of four professional and nearly 30 student staff, took home three first-place awards, three second-place, one third-place and a honorable mention.
These eight awards follow MCD’s back-to-back Best in Show wins at “Steal This Idea” in 2023 and 2024, and 30 awards overall since 2018.
“We’re incredibly lucky to have such a talented group of student designers and illustrators in our studio,” said Mike Greenlee, MCD design and production manager. “Everything they create is from scratch and thoughtfully crafted to reflect ASI in the best light.”
Top of Their Competition
Of the seven awards ASI won, they received first place for Best Promotional Campaign Created by Students, Best Poster Created by Students and Best Video/Animation Created by Students.
The Best Promotional Campaign belonged to the 2024 Spring Concert promotions put together by current and former MCD student employees Felipe Reblora, Ashley Mayes, Alan Quin, Ava Kendrena, Bella Kendrena, Matthew Manolo, Colin Vail, Hayley Garcia, Mauricio Nuñez and Sophie Fleming.
“Each spring concert is a new challenge and a fresh opportunity to push our creativity further,” said Mayes, a current social media lead. “There’s something about seeing your ideas and content come to life, knowing that you’ve contributed to something meaningful. While we are students, the experiences we’ve gained through ASI are truly transforming us, helping us find our footing in the professional world and igniting a passion for the work we want to pursue.”
Along with the best campaign, the award for Best Poster was awarded to former MCD graphic design lead Alice Le for her work on the 2024 Tuffy’s Marketplace Poster.
The Best Video/Animation award went to visual media specialists Matthew Manalo and Colin Vail for their work on “Titan Outdoors Staff Gets Ready for Your Next Adventure!”
“When we were doing that video, we just wanted to make something we thought was cool, but to see other people recognize it as award-winning makes it even better,” Vail said. “We had this story that we wanted to tell, and it ended up executing really well. We really got to be in our element and shoot something that was a good story.”
Through these three wins, ASI’s MCD has earned 12 first-place awards in the last seven years.
Success in Strides
Along with those first-place wins, ASI MCD also received second place for Best Logo/Brand Identity Created by Students, Best Social Media Campaign Created by Students and Best Interior/Wall Art Created by a Professional.
The Logo/Brand Identity award went to graphic design lead Liza Orlina for her work on the 2024 Camp Titan rebrand.
“It feels good to be recognized,” Orlina said. “I couldn’t have gotten to where I am without the help of everyone around me, so it’s nice to know that other people have enjoyed the work I do and the designs I create.”
The award for Social Media Campaign went to current and former MCD student employees Mayes, Ava Kendrena, Bella Kendrena, Quin, Manalo, Nuñez and Garcia for their 2024 Spring Concert social media promotions.
The Interior/Wall Art award went to Greenlee for his design for the Titan Outdoor Adventure wall in the new Titan Outdoor Adventures rental space.
The collaborative environment in MCD produces marketing and media to support ASI’s mission to enhance organizational excellence and support student success.
At the same time, creative freedom and ownership given to student employees foster growth and inspire the creation of award-winning art. In this way, ASI’s student employees truly embody the spirit of “for the students, by the students.”
Beyond Expectations
Finally, ASI MCD received third place for Promotional Products created by students. Promotional products play a key role in providing outreach for events, advertising ASI through materials like water bottles, stress balls, tote bags, sunglasses, pens and more.
The award went to design lead Sydney Hom and graphic designer Tiffany Le for their work on the 2024 “All Day ASI” promotional items.
“It’s nice to know that something Tiffany and I put so much effort into was recognized,” Hom said. “Even though some events are done every year, it’s fun how we get to put our own style into new designs every time.”
Former graphic designer JoAnn Do-On also earned honorable mention for her work on the “Brush and Bliss” schedule.
ASI’s MCD department works year-round to support ASI CSUF’s marketing and design needs, which allows student employees to develop as professionals while attending CSUF.
“What we do isn’t always easy,” said Greenlee. “These awards validate the time and energy the students pour into their craft, and they serve as powerful resume and portfolio builders as they prepare for careers in the field.”
By Isabel Martinez