The exceptional work of Cal State San Bernardino’s Coyote Advertising staff earned regional recognition as finalists in the student and professional competitions in American Advertising Federation Inland Empire chapter’s 2026 ADDY Awards.

This year, the national American Advertising Federation ceased using the Bronze Award designation, but that didn’t diminish excellence of the work of those named as finalists during the gala, held March 26 at the Ontario International Airport’s historic Terminal 1, now used as a television and movie set.

“AAF National no longer awards Bronze. That means the bar for recognition is higher, and being named a finalist carries real weight,” the AAF Inland Empire chapter said in a statement. “If even one of the three judges scored your entry for Gold or Silver, you made the finalist list. That's not a consolation – that's a credential. Gold. Silver. Finalist. Every level of recognition on that stage represented work that earned its place there.”

The AAF Inland Empire chapter honored work completed in the 2025 calendar year. The competition included hundreds of student entries from colleges and universities throughout the two-county region of Riverside and San Bernardino, along with professional entries.

Earning honors were Danyel Smith, with two recognitions in the Social Media Campaign category; Jacob Macias in the Website category; Sergio Venegas in the Special Event Materials category; Christopher Xavier in the Special Event Materials category; Malaysia Beckton in the Integrated Brand Identity Campaign; and Erika Wood, with recognitions in the Integrated Brand Identity Campaign and the Online/Interactive Campaign categories.

In the professional competition, Dmitriy Astakhov, lead videographer, graphic design and illustration, in the Multimedia and Immersive Technologies Department, earned finalist recognition in the Film & Video Branded Content category for the Coyote Radio Showreel.

Coyote Advertising in the College of Arts and Letters is the sister unit to the campus radio station, Coyote Radio. Together they form the student-run multi-media department at CSUSB under the leadership of Rueyling Chuang, dean of the College of Arts and Letters.

For information, contact Operations Manager Kelli Cluque at kelli.cluque@csusb.edu or (909) 537-3473.