Two AUT University students named New Zealand Post’s Student Marketers of the Year

Two AUT University students were named New Zealand Post’s 2010 Student Marketers of the Year yesterday with their take on a Westpac marketing campaign. 

Christabel Spong, of Auckland (pictured left), and Erin Gulyas (pictured right), from Dallas Texas, took first place with their campaign ‘It’s a better choice than your last resort’, an irreverent approach to the annual launch of Westpac’s tertiary package ‘Westie Pac’. 

Westpac’s Grant Andrews said: “We’ve very much enjoyed being part of the 2010 Student Marketer of the Year Awards and have found the experience a real eye-opener to the outstanding talent of New Zealand’s young up and comers.

“Some of the work entered was on par with the creative work that is out there in the market today and we’re excited to see what these young marketers will bring to the industry in the future.”

This year’s award programme gave students the chance to create a marketing campaign for the 2011 launch of the “Westie Pac” student account, incorporating multiple channels including direct mail, online, PR and experiential activity. 

Fiona Woolley, New Zealand Post’s Manager Market Engagement and a member of thejudging panel said: “Christabel’s and Erin’s entry was strategically excellent,well executed and introduced a clever idea that incorporated humour andinteractivity to engage students.

“It was a beautifully presented campaign and a joy to review.  We hope tosee the campaign brought to life next year.”

The New Zealand Post Student Marketer of The Year Award honours excellence inmarketing strategy, creativity and innovative thinking in tertiary students.Along with other prizes, the winners get the chance to present their talents toa room of prospective employers.

Since graduating together from AUT University, Christabel and Erin are nowputting their creative marketing skills into practice as juniors at CreativeBank. Both were also recent category winners in the 2010 Art of the EnvelopeAwards.

Christabel says she loves the constant challenge of coming up with new andexciting ideas and hopes to continue in the field of art direction, while Erinsays she wants to lead advertising into its next stage and to make her mark onthe industry.

The 2010 New Zealand Student Marketer of the Year runners up were Joe Stuart & Lydia Moore, AUT, for ‘Student Rock Star Keeping life simple for three more years’, Sinead King & Shannon Bell, Massey, for ‘Outrageously good fortune’,  and Frances Cooke & Wicky Tafau, AUT, for ‘Make the most of what you’ve got’.