The DMAWEF Gives Awards to Students, Professors and Industry Leaders

The Collegiate MAXI Competition is sponsored by DMAWEF in cooperation with the Direct Marketing Educational Foundation in NY. This annual case study competition enables students at colleges and universities to work on real business issues and challenges.   The 2007 winner was a group from Christopher Newport University in Newport News, Virginia under the leadership of Dr. Lisa Spiller. The members of the group were Andrew Vannatta, Chris Gregoire, Catherine Smagala and Marc Aldridge. This team also won the 2007 DMA Collegiate Echo Gold.

The Guy Yolton Award is given each year to the Collegiate MAXI team judged to have the best creative direct mail campaign. In giving this award, the EF honors Yolton, an outstanding pioneer of direct mail marketing who was active in DMAW for many years.

The Sisk Award for Direct Marketing Vision was established by a grant from Clyde Sisk to honor her husband, Edmund Sisk, founder and long-time supporter of DMAWEF. Since its inception in 1992 the award has been given annually to individuals and organizations whose pioneering vision has shaped the direct marketing industry. Each annual honoree is given a spyglass to symbolize the exploration each recipient made in becoming an industry leader. Sisk Award recipients include many of the legendary leaders of our industry:

1992: Lester Wunderman
1993: Jock Bickert
1994: Martin Baier
1995: Lillian Vernon
1996: Morris Dees
1997: Martin Edelston
1998: Martin Stone
1999: Austin Kiplinger
2000: Roger Craver & Richard Viguerie
2001: Joan Throckmorton
2002: Dick Hodgson
2003: Tom Phillips
2004: National Geographic Society
2005: Hal Malchow
2006: Jerry Huntsinger
2007: Michael O’Hara, PhD

Another important award given by the EF is the John Swain Memorial Scholarship. The award is named after John Swain, a long time member of DMAW and supporter of DMAWEF. The scholarship is given to an undergraduate in a mid-Atlantic college or university who demonstrates academic excellence and a desire to work in the field of marketing. The 2007 recipient, George Jones, is a recent graduate of Christopher Newport University. Prior students have come from such schools at American University, Catholic University, James Madison University, Salisbury University, Villa Julie College and Virginia Commonwealth University.

The Michael O’Hara Leadership in Education Award was created in 2007 in honor of long term DMAW and DMAWEF leader, Michael O’Hara. The award will be given to professors or institutions to promote the recognition of the direct response industry as a career choice for students. In giving the award, the EF will provide needed financial assistance to professors or schools who want to extend their DM academic efforts. The first award will be given in 2008.

The Joan Throckmorton Award for Creative Excellence recognizes the development of imaginative new teaching and learning techniques in the classroom. Also available from the DMAWEF are Course Development Grants and Faculty Development Grants. For more information of the DMAWEF award programs contact Katherine Carr at Kcarr@silvermktg.com or at 301-951-3505.