BHSU’S PONDER MAGAZINE AND STUDENTS BIG WINNERS AT AAF BLACK HILLS ADDY AWARDS

Black Hills State University students and staff received 22 Gold and Silver ADDYs at the 2025 American Advertising Federation Black Hills (AAF Black Hills) American Advertising Awards Gala Feb. 28, 2025. Among the winners, the BHSU student editorial team of PONDER Magazine took home top honors, with their second issue named “Best of Show,” the highest accolade a student entry can receive. 

BHSU students earning Gold ADDYs included Alec Butterfield, Sierra Hopp, Alivia Pautz, Noah Westergaard, and the PONDER editorial team. Silver ADDY recipients included Ashley Beguin, Butterfield, Rae Hanzlik, Madison Harris, Jillian Lent, Tyler Oakley, Ciana Schwader, and Westergaard. 

In addition to their Gold & Silver ADDYs, three BHSU students received a “Judge’s Choice” award. This included Pautz for her Palmers Hawaiian Kona Packaging, Hopp for her “So Much South Dakota” campaign, and Oakley for his “Built for Speed” photography campaign. 

In the professional awards category, the BHSU Office of Marketing & Communications received Silver ADDYs for their BHSU A2 Arena basketball court design and the Fall 2024 issue of the Alumni Magazine. 

"I am incredibly proud of our BHSU students, faculty, and staff for their outstanding achievements at the 2025 AAF Awards,” said BHSU President Steve Elliott who attended Friday’s award gala. “Winning 22 Gold and Silver ADDYs, along with the prestigious ‘Best of Show’ honor for PONDER Magazine, is a testament to the dedication, creativity, and excellence of our university community. These awards highlight the talent and hard work of our students, faculty, and staff, and we are thrilled to see their efforts recognized." 

Across the state, BHSU also saw success in Sioux Falls at the AAF South Dakota American Advertising Awards held the same night. The university, alongside their marketing agency Fresh Produce, won a Gold ADDY and Best in Class for their integrated marketing campaign launched last fall and received another Gold ADDY for their promotional video campaign “Many Kinds of Paths.” 

All Gold ADDY winners will be entered into the American Advertising Awards District 8 competition which will include entries from Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wisconsin.