Black Hills State University students and staff received 47 Gold and Silver ADDYs at the 2026 American Advertising Federation Black Hills (AAF Black Hills) Awards Gala Feb. 27, 2026. Among the winners, the BHSU student editorial team of PONDER Magazine took home top honors for the second year in a row, with their third issue named “Best of Show,” the highest accolade a student entry can receive.
BHSU students earning Gold ADDYs included Jenna Bondegard, Alec Butterfield, Josh Hall, Rae Hanzlik, Quill Lent, Shyanne Potthoff, Cole Marquez, Caddis Robinson, Noah Westergaard, and the PONDER editorial teams for issues three and four.
Silver ADDY recipients included Jaydn Anderson, Amber Aymar, Butterfield, Bondegard, Torrance Brown, Zakary Cina, Hunter Davis, Ava Elliott, Nathan Feller, Atlas Goodall, Hall, Sierra Hopp, Grant C. Koenig, Brooke Lammle, Lent, Marquez, Jesse Powers, Robinson, Taylor SanFilippo, Westergaard, and Julia Wilson.
In addition to their Gold & Silver ADDYs, three BHSU students received a “Judge’s Choice” award. This included Marquez for HOMIES Sock Packaging, Potthoff for “Breast Cancer Kills” Brand Identity Campaign, and Robinson for “Living on the Fly” Book Design.
In the professional awards category, the BHSU Office of Marketing & Communications, alongside their ad agency Fresh Produce, received three Gold and one Silver ADDY. Their BHSU-Rapid City campaign “Your Home Campus” also received a “Judge’s Choice” award, one of the top honors of the night.
“This year’s ADDY Awards highlight the remarkable creativity and dedication of both our students and staff,” said Becca Walters, senior director of marketing & communications at BHSU. “From our students earning top honors to our marketing and communications staff being recognized alongside Fresh Produce, these achievements reflect the collaborative spirit and high standards that define BHSU. We are immensely proud of the talent within our campus community and excited to see the work celebrated.”
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.