Nashville State Graphic Design Student Mary Moody Wins Best in Show at 61st Annual Nashville ADDY Awards

Nashville State Community College celebrates major wins at the 61st Annual Nashville ADDY Awards, where five Visual Communications A.A.S. students were honored for their creativity, craft, and storytelling.

The night’s top honor went to Mary Moody, a graphic design student whose project earned Best in Show, the competition’s highest student award. Fellow students Heidi Choi and Michelle Welch were also recognized in a big way, each receiving a prestigious Judge’s Choice Award—a distinction given to only a handful of standout entries each year.

More than 200 students, industry professionals, and educators gathered at Harken Hall to celebrate Nashville’s most exceptional talent in advertising, design, and photography.

Over the past nine years, Nashville State students have earned 64 AAF Nashville ADDY Awards, demonstrating the program’s consistent excellence and growing reputation.

Meet the 2026 Award-Winning Students

Gold

• Mary Moody
  Six Feet Deep Dish
  Sales & Marketing → Sales Promotion → S01A – Packaging

Silver

• Carson Ross
  Western Lifestyle
  Elements of Advertising → Still Photography → S26D – Campaign
• Carson Ross
  Western Film Stills
  Elements of Advertising → Still Photography → S26D – Campaign
• Michael Grando
  Nashville Lights
  Elements of Advertising → Still Photography → S26B – Color, Single
• Heidi Choi
  Don’t DE SIDE My Identity
  Out-of-Home & Ambient Media → Posters → S09B – Campaign

The award-winning projects can be viewed online.

A History of Achievement

Nashville State’s Visual Communications students continue to shine at the AAF Nashville ADDY Awards:

• 2026 – Five students won five ADDYs, including Best in Show and two Judge’s Choice awards
• 2025 – Five students won seven ADDYs
• 2024 – Six students won seven ADDYs
• 2023 – Nine students won 12 ADDYs
• 2022 – Four students won five ADDYs
• 2021 – Four students won seven ADDYs
• 2020 – Three students won seven ADDYs
• 2019 – Four students won four ADDYs
• 2018 – Five students won ten ADDYs

For the ninth consecutive year, the Nashville State Community College Foundation generously covered award entry fees as part of its commitment to student success, scholarships, and enrichment opportunities.