We are student creatives, strategists, and innovators using advertising to make real impact.
As a proud member of the American Advertising Federation, we compete each year in the National Student Advertising Competition — placing top three since 2021.
Who We Are
Our Mission
Our mission is to turn research into insight, insight into ideas, and ideas into campaigns that matter. Through NSAC and real client partnerships, we learn by doing—building work that’s strategic, creative, and grounded in culture.
We’re here to grow, challenge ourselves, and deliver work we’re genuinely proud of.
What is NSAC?
The National Student Advertising Competition (NSAC) is the heart of what we do at Adwave.
Hosted by the American Advertising Federation, NSAC challenges college teams across the country to build a full-scale advertising campaign for a real-world client—past sponsors include Coca-Cola, Meta, and Indeed. And since 2021, Adwave has consistently placed in the top three regionally—proving that even as students, we can think big and deliver even bigger.
The National Student Advertising Competition pits 100+ schools against a real brief from a real Fortune 500 client. Here's how we've placed in recent years
Our Team Introductions
When your in Adwave, you’ll be in one of our 4 teams. Apply based on your experience and interests.
Strategy
Our Strategy team dives deep into research and insights. They analyze the client’s goals, target audience, and cultural trends to uncover key opportunities. From there, they craft a positioning strategy and creative brief that guides the entire campaign direction.
For the curious researchers, puzzle-solvers, and forward strategists.
Media
The Media team researches media consumption habits, evaluate platforms, and build a comprehensive media plan that balances reach, frequency, and impact. Whether it’s digital, social, print, or experiential activations, they ensure our message hits the right audience at the right time.
For the trend-trackers, planners, and analysts fixated on mass media.
Creative
Creative transforms insights into bold ideas. From social posts to commercials and immersive experiences, they craft the campaign’s look, feel, and voice. Through compelling deliverables, messaging, and storytelling, the team turns strategy into narratives that captivate audiences with originality and flair.
For the storytellers and daydreamers who can’t stop imagining bold ideas.
Production
Production makes it all real. They handle the execution of campaign assets— designing, filming, editing, and visualizing the final deliverables. They’re the detail-oriented makers who bring creative concepts into polished presentations. You can apply as a graphic designer or film producer.