SalesFuel, AdMall, AAF, NSAC, Cal Berkeley, Marketing Research Award, Marketing Research, Marketing Intelligence, National Student Advertising Competition

SalesFuel is honored to be a research partner of the AAF's National Student Advertising Competition

The American Advertising Federation's National Student Advertising Competition (NSAC) is designed to give college students a near real-​world experience of planning and creating an integrated communications campaign for a real client. Nearly 100 universities compete every year.

SalesFuel provides industry data and insights to all competing teams through our AdMall sales intelligence platform for agencies, local media sales and digital marketing.

SalesFuel also provides the Best Use of Marketing Research award to one collegiate team each year. Teams are judged by NSAC judges for their use of marketing research from any source in the development of the campaign. The winning team receives a unique trophy and a $1,000 grant for their collegiate ad club.

“We're proud to partner with the AAF through our proprietary sales and marketing research, because students need a deep understanding of consumer behavior before they can truly influence it through advertising and marketing,” says SalesFuel CEO C. Lee Smith. “As a former NSAC participant myself (Ohio University, Nestle campaign), I know firsthand how valuable this competition is. There’s nothing like building a real campaign for a real client to prepare students for the industry.”


AdMall Best Use of Marketing Research Award Winners:

  • 2026: Liberty University (NFL campaign)
  • 2025: University of Minnesota (AT&T campaign)
  • 2024: University of California Berkeley (Tide campaign)
  • 2023: Hawaii Pacific University (Indeed campaign)
  • 2022: University of Kentucky (Meta Quest 2 campaign)
  • 2021: University of Kentucky (Tinder campaign)
  • 2020: University of Missouri (Adobe campaign)
  • 2019: Johnson & Wales University (Wienerschnitzel campaign)
  • 2018: University of Missouri (Ocean Spray campaign)
  • 2017: Grand Valley State University (Tai Pei frozen food campaign)
  • 2016: University of Virginia (Dr Pepper/​Snapple campaign)
  • 2015: University of Oregon (Pizza Hut campaign)
  • 2014: University of Texas at Austin (Mary Kay campaign)
  • 2013: University of Miami (Glidden campaign)
  • 2012: University of Miami (Nissan campaign)
  • 2011: University of Virginia (JCPenney campaign)
  • 2010: George Washington University (State Farm campaign)