top of page

Silver Medal Award

The AAF's 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's standards, creative excellence, and responsibility in areas of social concern.​

​

Annually, clubs across the country bestow this national AAF honor upon outstanding members of the local advertising community. The AAF Silver Medal is the highest award that can be given by an American Advertising Federation chapter and is considered the equivalent of a lifetime achievement award.​

2026 Silver Medal Award
 
​
​
​
​
​
​
 

We are honored to announce this year's Silver Medal Winner -- Keith Jones.


Keith's impact cannot be measured in titles alone, but in generations.


Keith has spent his career guiding students through their first critiques, their first campaigns, and often their first glimpse into the advertising profession. He helped foster a solid foundation and understanding of design principles for many students who would go on to pursue careers in graphic design and marketing. Through his teaching, he instilled professional practices and ethical standards in the industry.


Keith served as an Associate Professor of Art at the University of Alabama in Huntsville from 1996- 2025. He taught countless students at all levels of graphic design courses from introductory to advanced for nearly 30 years until his retirement in 2025.


But he never kept education confined to the classroom. He built bridges. Through his participation in many professional organizations and campus activities at UAH, he brought students and professionals together in meaningful, real-world ways. Keith was the Founder and Advisor of a Student Advertising Federation Club at UAH that ran for 19 years, was an active member of the American Advertising Federation – North Alabama for many years, and participated in organizations such as the American Institute of Graphic Design, Huntsville Photographic Society, and Business Networking International.


Keith’s influence is not loud. It is lasting. It shows up in agencies across our region. It shows up in boardrooms. It shows up in creative work that wins awards, campaigns that matter, and professionals who lead with integrity and heart.


That kind of legacy does not fade. It multiplies.


With this Silver Medal Award, we honor the teacher, the connector, the mentor, and the quiet architect of so many creative careers in our industry.  

keith_jones.jpg
Criteria​

The Silver Medal committee, comprised of past Silver Medal winners in North Alabama, chooses the recipient from the nominations based on the following criteria:

​​

  • Contribution to their Company

    • The recipient must have achieved success in one of the following areas of work: advertising agency, advertiser, media or advertising service. 

  • Creative Ability

    • The recipient must have shown a consistent, high degree of original thinking in their field.

  • Contribution to the Advancement of Advertising

    • ​The recipient must have worked to increase the stature and raise the standards of the advertising profession.

  • Contribution to the Community

    • ​The recipient should be someone who has been active in civic, religious, or other groups dedicated to human or social welfare.

  • Service to the American Advertising Federation

    • The honoree should have demonstrated a long-term commitment to the local American Advertising Federation chapter. Service to the corresponding AAF District and AAF National further solidifies the depth of service.

FAQs​​

  • Who can submit a nomination for this award?

    • ​Anyone! You do not have to be a past recipient of the Silver Medal Award to make a nomination.

  • Who selects the winner?

    • The Silver Medal committee, comprised of past Silver Medal winners in North Alabama, chooses the recipient from the nominations

  • When will the winner be announced?

    • The winner will be announced at the American Advertising Awards Gala on Thursday, February 26, 2026. â€‹

  • When are nominations due?

    • ​​We are accepting nominations until 11:59pm CT on Tuesday, February 3, 2026.

bottom of page