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Monday, May 8, 2023
From left, NIC Graphic and Web Design students Aleah Jones, Megan Hudlet and Maximillian Bazler pose with their “Addy” awards from the 2023 Spokane American Advertising Awards Gala with NIC Graphic Design Professor Philippe Valle. /NIC file photo
Different year, different students, same results.   
That’s the motto around North Idaho College’s Graphic and Web Design program in McLain Hall, where years of accolades and awards, both regional and national, for student and instructor excellence pile up and are put on display. 
This year, those different students continued the tradition as they brought home an abundance of awards from the 2023 Spokane American Advertising Awards Gala on April 15. 
NIC student and Coeur d’Alene resident Maximillian Bazler won five ‘Addy’ awards including two gold awards, a silver award, a bronze award and one Best in Show award across all student entries for his design work entered at the gala. Bazler said he was happy with how he fared and he considers winning the awards a prestigious honor. 
“I was lucky enough to walk away with all four kinds of awards,” Bazler said. 
Bazler’s classmates also found success at the 2023 Spokane American Advertising Awards. Megan Hudlet of Coeur d’Alene won two silver Addy awards, and Aleah Jones of Bonners Ferry came home with a gold award, two silver awards, a bronze award and the Ascender award for her competition entries.
Bazler, Hudlet and Jones also medaled at the District XI competition, which includes competitors from Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Washington on April 28. Hudlet received a silver medal and Bazler earned a silver and a gold medal, which qualified him to compete at the national American Advertising Federation “Ad America” competition June 1 in St. Louis, Mo.
Growing up, Bazler said he enjoyed playing on his family's home computer and messing around with different computer programs. He said his mom recognized his hobby and helped enroll him in high school design classes as that hobby grew into a passion.   
That passion has now grown into a career, as NIC Graphic Design Professor Phillippe Valle helped Bazler get a graphic design job before his spring graduation. 
“Year after year we have people getting jobs and work in the industry,” Valle said. “It’s what we do.” 
Bazler said that Valle – who was named the PPI Printastic! Educator of the Year for the second year running in the fall – encourages his students to be involved in the community through field trips and events. That involvement helps build confidence in their work and connects students with professional designers and local companies. 
“I think he does a really good job in involving us in the whole community and making connections around this area, which has really helped prepare me for this industry,” Bazler said.
Job placement has also been a success for the program – students are often offered positions, even before completing their NIC degrees.
Valle said he is proud of the work his students do and that every year he is impressed that NIC Graphic Design students are in such demand for employment. 
“We do our jobs and are very good at what we do,” Valle said. “We have very dedicated students and that’s the recipe for our success.” 
Valle said he uses events and competitions in assignments to teach his student to be ready for the “real world.” Some of his students have gone onto jobs at large companies like Apple, Netflix, Marvel and more. 
“For a little college, we do a lot of big things,” Valle said. 
Some recent successes for the program include students Jones, Kya Timmins of Athol and Victoria Taylor of Rathdrum winning the American Advertising Federation Spokane Toni M. Robideaux Scholarship on April 15. Bazler also won an open design competition for the Sandpoint Music Festival, which saw his design featured as a truck wrap to promote the festival.
Bazler, Timmins and Eric Bockie of Coeur d’Alene also had illustrations featured in the Inlander as alternate covers, promoting various summer camps in the region.
“What those students have done year after year is phenomenal,” Valle said.
NIC Graphic Design students will have the opportunity to show off more of their skills in upcoming competitions including the Printing Industry Association’s “Print Rocks!” competition June 23 in Portland.
NIC Graphic Design and Web Design students will host their yearly portfolio show from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday, May 7 at The Jacklin Art and Cultural Center in Post Falls. A preview of their work can be viewed at Recollections.welearndesign.com.
For more information, contact NIC Graphic Design Professor Philippe Valle at (208) 769-3426 or pfvalle@nic.edu.
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Gerry McCray
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Sherman Building Room 104
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Coeur d'Alene, ID 83815
(208) 769-5958
ggmccray@nic.edu

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Sherman Building Room 104
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(208) 929-4048
tom.greene@nic.edu

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