Rhodes Branding earned a Gold ADDY at the 2026 American Advertising Awards for its strategic branding work with Appalachia Intermediate Unit 8 (AIU8). The awards gala, hosted by AAF Midlands, took place on Friday, February 20, in West Columbia, S.C.
Rhodes Branding received the Gold ADDY in the Brand Elements, Public Service Collateral category for its work on JoltEDU, AIU8’s innovative microlearning platform. Designed specifically for teachers in Pennsylvania, JoltEDU delivers short, accessible bursts of professional learning that educators can engage with anytime, anywhere.
Led by Executive Director Dr. Tom Butler, AIU8 is an education service agency based in Altoona, Pa. The organization serves more than 47,000 students across 35 school districts in Blair, Bedford, Cambria, and Somerset counties. AIU8 works to strengthen collaboration between schools and communities, drive innovation, and expand opportunities for learners throughout the region.
“Recognition like this reinforces the power of purposeful branding in education,” said Rhodes Branding President Dan Wyar. “JoltEDU is about expanding access and empowering educators. We’re grateful to Dr. Butler, Dr. Jennifer Anderson, Dr. Christine Davis, and the entire AIU8 team for trusting us to help bring that vision to life.”
Rhodes Branding’s work was selected from 185 entries submitted by advertising professionals across the Midlands and Lowcountry. As part of the national American Advertising Federation competition, Gold ADDY winners advance to the district level, with the opportunity to compete nationally.