A class act: Mad Women shine at this year’s graduation ceremony for ADMA Creative School

Look out Mad Men. It was five future Mad Women who went to the head of the class at this year’s graduation ceremony for ADMA Creative School.

At the celebration, held last night at the CBD Hotel in Sydney, the 19 graduating students cheered on Elena Scarmagnan, a studio traffic manager with OgilvyOne, who was selected as the overall ‘best in class’ of this year’s Creative School. 

Praise was also handed out to Grace De Morgan, the year’s best copy writer and Meghann Woolley, best art director. Heidi Steep received a highly commended for her copywriting work while Rebecca Drummond received a highly commended for art direction.

Says ADMA Creative School head tutor Rob Morrison, who is also creative director at OgilvyOne: “This just shows you how the creative part of this industry is supposed to work. It doesn’t matter your race, colour, creed or, particularly, your gender. If your ideas are good enough, you’re in. In the last few years, we’ve seen more and more women enrol in Creative School which is fantastic for the industry. This year’s group of students as a whole were particularly talented and clearly there are several who are ready to work in the industry right now.”

The 2013 graduation was attended by over 80 people, including students, Creative School tutors, and senior agency creatives on the lookout for fresh talent.

Morrison noted the top three winners from last year were all working in agencies. Charles Grant, the overall 2012 winner, is working as a digital creative for DigitasLBi in Edinburgh. In Sydney, the winner in the art direction category, Jessica Roberts, now works at OgilvyOne as an art director while the best copywriter, Peter Mountford, is at R/GA.

Says Morrison: “Three past ADMA Creative School graduates are now members of my creative department – two were Best in Class winners and one was last year’s best Art Director. So, suffice it to say, I’m a believer. It is definitely the place to find up-and-coming talent.”

Says ADMA CEO Jodie Sangster: “ADMA Creative School not only helps young people to develop creative skills and see if they have what it takes to be Mad Men and Women. It also puts them in touch with the great marketing and advertising agencies and the most senior creative directors in the country who are always on the lookout for future talent.”

Adds Jodie, noting that Rapp, M&C Saatchi and Friend were added to long-term agencies MercerBell, Frontier, Whybin\TBWA Group and OgilvyOne: “More agencies were also getting involved with Creative School, having seen the calibre of students it turns out.”