Silver Medal Award
The American Advertising Federations Silver Medal Award Program was established in 1959 to recognize men and women who have made outstanding contributions to advertising and who have been active in furthering the industry standards, creative excellence and responsibility in areas of social concern. Annually, AAF member clubs bestow this honor upon outstanding members of the local advertising community.
2021 Silver Medal Award Nominations
We are currently accepting nominations for the 2021 Silver Medal Award. Nominations will be accepted through December 31, 2020 at 5:00 pm CST. The nominations will be reviewed by a selection committee and the winner will be announced and recognized at the annual American Advertising Awards ceremony on Friday, February 21, 2021.
Criteria to consider include:
- Contribution to His/Her Company – achieved success in one of the following areas of work: advertising agency, advertiser, media or advertising service
- Creative Ability – has shown a consistent, high degree of original thinking in their field
- Contributions to the General Advancement of Advertising – has worked to increase the stature and raise the standards of the advertising profession
- Contributions to the Community – is someone who has been active in civic, religious, or other groups dedicated to human or social welfare
See a list of our past Silver Medal Winners
We’re sorry! Nominations are now closed for the 2021 Silver Medal Award.
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2020 Silver Medal Winner
Lisa Verkamp
Lisa Verkamp has a passion for all things advertising, bringing 15+ years of industry experience to the table. Introduced early on to the agency life, she started as a college intern at Kitch & Schreiber. Before graduating from college, Lisa got her “full-time” feet wet in the media department at Keller Crescent Company. She would later become the Media Director at AXIOM Marketing & Advertising, where she spent 7 years managing multi-millions of dollars annually in media planning, budgeting, and buying for various clients.
In 2014 Lisa decided to go client-side and is currently the Marketing and Annual Campaign Director of the YMCA of Southwestern Indiana. She manages the marketing communications for the five-branch association, in addition to fundraising for the Y’s various programs for at-risk youth. Needless to say, she wears a lot of hats these days, from market research and data analytics to communication and copywriting to design and production, and she wouldn’t have it any other way. She’s been awarded multiple ADDYs during her industry tenure for both collaborative projects and personal designs.
Lisa holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Marketing as well as Advertising and a Master’s degree in Business Administration, all from the University of Southern Indiana. She competed on USI’s National Student Advertising Competition team in 2003, tasked with developing the campaign for the Toyota Matrix. An academic at heart, she never stops learning or honing her skills.
In her spare time, Lisa teaches advertising classes as an adjunct instructor at the University of Southern Indiana. Helping mold the next generation of creative minds, she always answers the call and willingly participates in portfolio reviews, mock interviews, job shadows, and internships. She actively volunteers in the community by lending her leadership and vision to various non-profit boards, including AAF – Greater Evansville, AAF – District 6, the Evansville Design Group, and the Arts Council of Southwestern Indiana.
As an enthusiast of books, magazines, TV, and movies, Lisa loves a great story. She prefers brain games and puzzles to keep her mind sharp and has various craft hobbies, like jewelry making, to keep her creative juices flowing. She and her husband, Darren, love to explore new places and experience new things by traveling, so vacations are a big deal in the Verkamp household.

Past Recipients
Year | Name | Company |
2020 | Lisa Verkamp | YMCA SW Indiana |
2019 | Kristen Tucker | Tucker Publishing Group |
2018 | Jim Mattingly | Mattingly Media Services |
2017 | Matt Wagner | Matt Wagner Design |
2016 | Kris Laufer | Ten Adams |
2015 | Mike Bevers | Midwest Communications |
2014 | Jack Pate | Evansville Courier Company |
2013 | Tim Black | WEVV-TV |
2012 | Andrew Herbertz | Casino Aztar |
2011 | Shelly Johnson | Bill Hudson & Associates |
2010 | Bob Jeffers | University of Southern Indiana |
2009 | Pam Hight |
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2008 | Nancy Kirkpatrick | Keller Crescent |
2007 | Randy Lientz | AXIOM Marketing & Advertising |
2006 | Bob West | University of Southern Indiana |
2005 | Phil Mowrey | Daniel Burton Dean |
2004 | John Chidester | Holiday World & Splashin Safari |
2003 | Kay Forbes-Smith | KFS & Associates |
2002 | Dick Thomas | Keller Crescent |
2001 | Lynne Mlady | Keller Crescent |
2000 | Larry Aiken | Aiken Management |
1999 | Pat Fagan | Keller Crescent |
1998 | Carol & Howard Abrams | deJongs |
1997 | Delores Mason | Evansville Courier Company |
1996 | Lynn Mautz | WIKY / WJPS |
1995 | Jan Eastham | Evansville Courier Company |
1994 | John Reiplinger | WAZE-TV 52 |
1993 | Jack Headlee | Ten Adams Advertising Agency |
1992 | FA “Al” Samuelson, Jr. | Keller Crescent |
1991 | Robert H. Hartmann | Evansville Press |
1990 | William R. Hight | WEVV-TV, Channel 44 |
1989 | Gary Edwards | Edwards Outdoor Advertising |
1988 | Courtney Smith | Smiths Radio Works |
1987 | Raymond S. Norris | Sears, Roebuck & Company |
1986 | Robert M. Wright | Motivational Enterprises |
1985 | Pattie Davis | Washington Square Mall |
1984 | Leon Howell | Naegele Outdoor Advertising |
1983 | Clarence E. Krieger | Krieger-Ragsdale & Company |
1982 | Thurman Artz | Evansville Printing Corporation |
1981 | Henry Campbell | WIKY FM-AM |
1980 | Fred Kitch | Keller Crescent |
1979 | Charles A. Blake | WIKY FM-AM |
1978 | Ernest D. Madden | WEHT-TV, Channel 25 |
1977 | Melba Jean Racener | Racener Advertising Agency |
1976 | John F. Hurlbut | WVMC-WSAB Radio, Wabash Cable TV |
1975 | Robert E. Henkle | Faultess Division, Bliss & Laughlin Industries |
1974 | Alan Graf | Keller Crescent |
1973 | E. Berry Smith | WTVW-TV, Channel 7 |
1972 | Walter J. Fehn | Evansville Printing Company |
1971 | Robert L. Leach | National City Bank |
1970 | Chickie Frieberg | Racener Advertising Agency |
1969 | Clyde M. Ricketts | WGBF AM & FM |
1968 | Henry C. Meyer | Sears, Roebuck & Company |
1967 | Martin L. Leich | WGBF |
1966 | Herb C. Simpson | Simpson Printing Company |
1965 | No Recipient |
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1964 | Fred W. Balz | Evansville Printing Corporation |
1963 | Alan A. Brentano | Keller Crescent |
1962 | Richard Geier | Creative Press |