The national Ovation Awards competition is designed to recognize outstanding accomplishments of the AAF's advertising chapters and to showcase the programs and projects that these members undertake each year. 



Welcome to the 2025-2026 Ovation Awards Competition!

The AAF's Ovation Awards recognizes local advertising chapters for their initiatives in Club Operations, Cornerstone Initiatives & Events, Membership Development & Communications, Programs, and Public Service. The competition was established to honor the significant contributions of the AAF network of professional advertising chapters and to encourage excellence in areas of club management that contribute to the strength of the AAF as an organization.

We'll celebrate this year's Ovation Awards winners and recognize the absolute best of our grassroots network during ADMERICA. Festivities include the annual Council of Governors parade, winners of our Ovation Awards, Governor-of-the-Year, and recipients of the Betty Riehl Excellence in Service Award, Pat Martin Excellence in District Service Award, Lee-Douthit-Levine Perseverance Award, and Chic Davis Memorial Award.

2026 Ovation Award Winners

2026 Governor of the Year

Austin Sandy

AAF District10

 

2026 Chapters & Presidents of the Year 

Division 1 

AAF Dallas 

Elisabeth Zuerker 

 

 

 

 



Division 2 

AdFed Minnesota 

Althea Larson

 

 

 

 



Division 3 

AAF Nebraska  

Cody Felber

 

 

 

 



Division 4 

AAF Amarillo 

Zivorad Filipovic

 

 

 

 



Division 5 

Ad 2 Minnesota  

Hannah Hill

 

2026 Club Achievement Winners

Division 1

AAF Austin

1st Place—Public Service

AAF Dallas

1st Place—Club Operations
1st Place—Cornerstone Initiatives & Events
1st Place—Membership Development & Communications
1st Place—Programs
2nd Place—Public Service


Division 2

AAF Houston

2nd Place—Club Operations
2nd Place—Cornerstone Initiatives & Events
2nd Place—Membership Development & Communications
2nd Place—Programs
2nd Place—Public Service

AdFed Minnesota

1st Place—Club Operations
1st Place—Cornerstone Initiatives & Events
1st Place—Membership Development & Communications
1st Place—Programs
1st Place—Public Service


Division 3

AAF Atlanta

1st Place—Cornerstone Initiatives & Events

AAF Baton Rouge

3rd Place—Club Operations
3rd Place—Cornerstone Initiatives & Events
3rd Place—Membership Development & Communications
2nd Place—Programs
2nd Place—Public Service

AAF Nebraska

1st Place—Club Operations
2nd Place—Membership Development & Communications
3rd Place—Programs
1st Place—Public Service

AAF Orlando

2nd Place—Club Operations
2nd Place—Cornerstone Initiatives & Events
1st Place—Membership Development & Communications
1st Place—Programs

Division 4

AAF Akron

3rd Place—Membership Development & Communications

AAF Amarillo

2nd Place—Club Operations
2nd Place—Cornerstone Initiatives & Events
3rd Place—Public Service

AAF Cleveland

1st Place—Club Operations
2nd Place—Membership Development & Communications
1st Place—Programs

AAF Coastal Bend

1st Place—Public Service

AAF Dubuque

1st Place—Membership Development & Communications

AAF Hawai'i

2nd Place—Programs

AAF Northeast Arkansas

3rd Place—Programs 2nd Place—Public Service

AAF Roanoke

3rd Place—Cornerstone Initiatives & Events

AAF Tuscaloosa

3rd Place—Club Operations
1st Place—Cornerstone Initiatives & Events


Division 5

Ad 2 Austin

2nd Place—Membership Development & Communications

Ad 2 Dallas

3rd Place—Cornerstone Initiatives & Events
3rd Place—Programs

Ad 2 Hawaii

1st Place—Club Operations
2nd Place—Cornerstone Initiatives & Events
3rd Place—Public Service

Ad 2 Houston

3rd Place—Club Operations

Ad 2 Minnesota

2nd Place—Club Operations
1st Place—Cornerstone Initiatives & Events
3rd Place—Membership Development & Communications
1st Place—Programs
1st Place—Public Service

Ad 2 Orlando

2nd Place—Public Service

Ad 2 Reno

2nd Place—Programs

Ad 2 Roanoke

1st Place—Membership Development & Communications