Four graduate students in the University’s Elections and Campaign Management program have been awarded a total of five Student Pollie Awards from the American Association of Political Consultants (AAPC)—the highest honor bestowed by the association. The awards recognize excellence in political advertising and span several categories, including Best Television Ad, Best Radio Ad, and Best Website.

The Fordham students received Pollie Awards in more categories than any other program, outperforming other prestigious schools and campaign management programs–including the Graduate School of Political Management at George Washington University, the University at Akron, and the University of Florida.McCollum290 Fordham’s 2015 Pollie award recipients are:

  • Best Campaign Plan (Gold): Nicole Jaconetty
  • Best Fundraising Effort (Silver): Nicole Jaconetty
  • Best Use of Direct Mail (Gold): Dina Charchour:
  • Best Use of Television (Silver): Bryndís Ísfold Hlöðversdóttir
  • Best Use of Television (Bronze): Louis McDonald

Awarded annually by AAPC, the Pollies are one of the most prestigious awards in the political campaign and public affairs industry.

“We are so proud of our students,” said Costas Panagopoulos, PhD, professor of political science and director of the Master’s in Elections and Campaign Management program. “People work their entire professional careers in political advertising and never earn a Pollie,” he added. “To win [one]as a student is truly exceptional.”

Among the University projects recognized was a finance plan for Hillary Clinton’s 2016 campaign and a fictional gubenatorial campaign. Nicole Jaconetty, a graduate student in Elections and Campaign Management program, and students Søren Dal Rasmussen, Elizabeth Dobbin, Carlos Hernández-Echevarría, Louis McDonald, Natalie Ryan, and Tiffany Smile created a campaign plan for a hypothetical Minnesota Governor’s race that was to take place in the fall of 2014, titled “McCollum for Governor 2014.” Dina Charchour’s Pollie was for her direct mail piece entitled “A Kentucky Tradition” relating to Alison Lundergan Grimes’ Senate race against Mitch McConnell.

 Students received their Pollie Awards at a ceremony in New Orleans, LA in March 2015.

— Janet Sassi

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Janet Sassi is editor/associate director of internal communications. She can be reached at (212) 636-7577 or fallersassi@fordham.edu