Each year, a corporate sponsor (client) provides an assignment or case study outlining the history of its product and current challenge. The case study reflects a real world marketing challenge. Students must research the product and its competition, identify potential problem areas and devise a completely integrated campaign for the client. Each student team then “pitches” its campaign to a panel of judges.

Each of the AAF’s college chapters can form a team for the National Student Advertising Competition on its campus. 

The AAF is divided into 15 geographical regions, and based on their school location, student teams first compete at the district level, either in-person or virtually. 

The winning team(s) from each district then advances to the semi-finals, where NSAC teams compete for one of eight spots at the finals. 

The final round of competition is held during ADMERICA, the AAF’s annual national conference.

Judging is conducted by professionals in the advertising, marketing and communications industry. Judges at the national level are selected from the client and their advertising agencies.