MUNCIE, Ind. - Several Ball State University employees were recognized recently for their creative talents during the 20th annual local Addy Awards banquet.

The Advertising Federation of East Central Indiana, which includes more than 200 members, honors outstanding advertising efforts each year. The event was Feb. 8 at the Horizon Convention Center.
The organization's top honor went to Al Rent, the university's marketing director, who received the Silver Medal.

The award is presented annually to an individual who has made outstanding contributions to advertising and who has been active in furthering the industry's standards, creative excellence and responsibility in areas of social concern.

"I'm honored and humbled by the award," Rent said. "I feel so fortunate to have had the opportunity to work with so many outstanding professionals over the past 35 years. It is I who should be thanking them."

Other award winners included:

• Indiana Public Radio won a Gold Addy and Best of Show-Broadcast for "It's Up to You," a fund-raising campaign in 2002. The Fall 2002 campaign, "You Make the Difference," also won a Gold Addy for Radio Self-Promotion. Brian Eckstein and Marcus Jackman were contributors to the two projects along with the IPR staff and several student producers.
• Ball State received a Gold Addy in the print advertising category for the publication "Benefacta: In the Field 2002." Contributors included Ron McVey and Susan Holloway of University Communications.
• The Ball State student chapter of the American Advertising Federation won a Gold Addy for its "Starbucks Coffee Crunch" project in the print campaign category.
• Photographic Services won two Silver Addy awards in the still photography color category for "Shafer Tower at Dusk for the President's Report" and "Violins for Sherry Kloss brochure." Contributors from Photo Services included John Huffer, Michael Hickey and Don Rogers.
• University Communications received a Silver Addy in the annual report-four color category for "Momentum." Contributors from University Communications included Julie Parmerlee, Susan Holloway, Mary Barr and Glenn Augustine.
• WIPB-TV won a Silver Addy in the advertising for the arts-interactive category with its "Blood Relations eBook." Contributing to the project were Amber Williams, Jungun Moon, Rodger Smith, Andy Bell and Jae-Hyung Lee.
• The Ball State student chapter of the American Advertising Federation won a Silver Addy for its "American Egg Association" project in the print campaign-student category.