UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Three Penn State alumni were honored as award winners by the Ad/PR Network Board of the Donald P. Bellisario College of Communications. The awards, which recognize alumni working in the field of advertising/public relations, were presented this week on campus.
Those honored were:
Bradley E. Hunter, class of 2007, Outstanding Alumni – Advertising
Hunter, the head of business development-advertising at Twelve Labs, more than 15 years of experience driving innovation and building meaningful partnerships in the world of digital advertising.
Before joining Twelve Labs, he was the head of industry partnerships at TikTok, putting him at the forefront of tackling some of the industry’s most important challenges — from media responsibility to brand safety.
Before that, he worked at Google, leading strategic industry partnerships and helping some of the world’s top brands navigate digital transformation.
Watch Hunter's acceptance speech on YouTube.
Anne Sparkman Glassmyer, class of 2004, Outstanding Alumni – Public Relations
Sparkman serves as senior vice president of corporate communications for Scholastic, the world’s largest publisher and distributor of children's books.
She’s been with Scholastic for the past 14 years and during that time her expertise has helped the company strengthen and maintain its reputation as a beloved and trusted source for parents and educators on what kids want to read, introduce new leadership, strategically launch multiple editions of the Kids & Family Reading Report, and keep children’s access to books a priority message.
Sparkman is a member of committees for both the Association of American Publishers and PEN America and has served on scholarship selection committees for the New York Women in Communications. She also participates in a variety of community service efforts including volunteering at her children’s schools.
Watch Glassmyer's acceptance speech on YouTube.
Jay Whitney "Whit" Friese, class of 1990, Lifetime Achievement
As vice president of creative marketing for The Home Depot, Friese works to connect one of America’s most well-known brands to millions of customers.
His impactful and wide-ranging career has included positions with CNN, vice president and group creative director with his team launching more than 40 CNN Original Series, multiple films, and podcasts series; Troika, creative director, helping to launch programs on AMC, A&E, ESPN and Disney; and, before that, Warner Bros. Entertainment as a technical consultant for TV series, “Trust Me.”
Friese started his career and spent a dozen years at agency powerhouse Leo Burnett, working with clients such as Coca-Cola, Dewar’s Scotch, McDonald's and Procter & Gamble. He also spent five years in Japan, leading the agency’s creative efforts all the way to winning the firm’s first ever Cannes Grand Prix.
Friese has earned four Emmys and six Global Marketer of the Year awards during his career.
Watch Friese's acceptance speech on YouTube.
About the Advertising/Public Relations Network
The Advertising/Public Relations Network is chartered by the Donald P. Bellisario College of Communications Alumni Society and focuses on the networking of alumni and professionals in the fields of advertising, public relations, community relations and marketing. The group serves as a resource for the Bellisario College, with the Department of Advertising/Public Relations having input and final approval of all activities and programs of the group.