South Forsyth High Students Win Atlanta Hawks Ad Competition

Two teams of students at recently placed in a statewide advertising campaign competition promoting the Atlanta Hawks.

The contest, sponsored by the Hawks, was open to Georgia high school students who had to create an advertising campaign to promote the basketball team. The students were challenged to create an innovative tagline, billboard, radio commercial and social media campaign.

The campaign created by juniors, Kahlil Rice, Taylor Gray Eckert, and Andrew Kaldas, placed second in the statewide competition. 

"After winning, I felt an overwhelming sense of pride in my work, and felt as though I, with my teammates, had accomplished something truly noteworthy," said Kaldas.

"Upon receiving the news of our victory, I became overcome with feelings of joy due to my achievement," said Eckert.

"I felt relieved," Rice added.

The second campaign created by senior Nanette Renya placed third in the state.

"Fly High" was the tagline chosen by the students illustrating the great potential the Hawks have to achieve new heights in the upcoming season.

"I am very proud of these students," said Katie Pniewski, SFHS marketing teacher. "They successfully brought together components they learned in class and created two original advertising campaigns."

Students in the marketing class at South Forsyth learn how to create promotional plans, business plans, and marketing research projects for real businesses and non-profit organizations.

"I believe it is crucial for students to get the opportunity to create their own real world marketing projects in marketing class," Pniewski said. "So far this year, my sports and entertainment marketing students have also created promotional projects for Forsyth County Hoopfest and 'The SEC Football News App' for Android and iPhone.

While the students didn't win anything tangible in the competition Pniewski believes they greatly benefited from the experience.

"Since they won, I have noticed these four students take more of a leadership role in our classroom," she said. "I can tell them their projects are great over and over, but their confidence really increases after an experience like this."

The two teams presented their project in front of Atlanta Hawks marketing representatives and more than 300 of their peers on the floor of Phillips Arena on Dec. 7.

All four students are currently enrolled in the sports and entertainment marketing class at SFHS.