March 27, 2026

Graphic Design student Flor Quiñones takes coveted Judge’s Choice Award as Ferris State students shine in West Michigan ADDY Awards

Ferris State University student Flor Quiñones earned four awards, including the coveted Judge’s Choice, at the West Michigan American Advertising Awards, showcasing the region’s top creative work.

Ferris State students and staff members earned 21 awards in this year’s contest with students from both the main campus in Big Rapids and Ferris State’s Kendall College of Art and Design in Grand Rapids.

Designer Julie Tokarz-Stoye and photographer Ellen Dziubek of the Ferris State Marketing and Communications team and Michele Bosak, KCAD exhibitions director, earned a Silver Award in the Book Design category for their Tension & Tenderness exhibition catalog entry.

“Ferris State’s KCAD empowers students to push creative boundaries and go beyond the ordinary to produce award-winning work,” KCAD Interim Dean Stephen Halko said. “Our students’ achievements at the ADDYs showcase not only their hard work, but also the expertise and mentorship our faculty bring to the classroom every day. This recognition highlights KCAD’s role as a leader in design and workforce ready education."

The American Advertising Awards is the advertising industry’s largest and most representative competition, attracting more than 25,000 entries each year in the three-tier competition, aimed at recognizing the creative spirit of excellence in the art of advertising.

Quiñones, a Graphic Design major, earned a Gold Award and the coveted the Judge’s Choice for her gallery highlighting BioPhilia. The Interior Design concept brings elements like sunlight, plant life, flowing water, and organic materials into built environments to support mental clarity, wellness and comfort.   

She also earned a Gold Award for her Wamma Foods entry in the Campaign category and a Silver Award for the ArtPrize Awards Ceremony entry in the Campaign category.

Ferris State’s award winners are:

• Flor Quiñones; Judges Choice, for the BioPhilia Gallery, Single Occurrence category
• Quiñones, Gold, for the Wamma Foods entry in the Campaign category.
• Quiñones, Gold, for the BioPhilia Gallery in the Single Occurrence category
• Quiñones, Silver, for the ArtPrize Awards Ceremony entry in the Campaign category
• Koree Bemiss, Gold, for the No Good Days entry in the Consumer Campaign category
• Bemiss, Silver, for the Kubota Brand Refresh in the Campaign category
• Ethan Paras, Gold, for the National Geographic entry in the Consumer Campaign category
• Paras, Silver, for the A Window to Wonder entry in the Single Advertising category.
• Jorden Johnson, Gold, for the Only Strings OOH entry in the Campaign category.
• Elena Roberts, Gold, for the Seven Monks Brand Refresh entry in the Campaign category.
• Amber Hadley, Gold, for the Revere entry in the Campaign category.
• Chaz Silva, Gold, for the Produ©t entry in the Single Occurrence or Installation category.
• Silva, Silver, for the Spatial Design entry in the Digitally Enhanced Ad category.
• Hannah Emmert, Silver, Backyard Tea Launch entry in the Campaign category.
• Kylie Yoder, Silver, for the Grounded entry in the Packaging category.
• Annagail Kircheis, Silver., for the Sweetland’s Candy Rebrand entry in the Campaign category.
• Jolie Evenhouse, Silver, for the Nerferiti entry in the Packaging category.
• Anna Lobbes, Silver, for the Planetary Gear entry in the Brand Identity category.
• Lobbes, Silver, for the Honda; Return of the Fit entry in the Campaign category.
• The team of Hailey Nye, Emma Eling, Blake Flanery, Abby Keown, Silver, for the Lowell Arts 2025 entry in the Year End Campaign category.
• Nye, Silver, for the Uproot entry in the Campaign category.