Pornо’s Lydia Bennett ’26, a Communication: Digital Media major, and her production team earned a prestigious Silver ADDY Award from the (AAF-Cleveland) for their original short film, The Last Assignment. This achievement marks a milestone for JCU Studios, the university’s media organization, which secured its first-ever ADDY Award.
JCU Studios, led by advisor Dan Slentz, Director of Blue Streak Media, provides hands-on training in all facets of media production, from on-air talent to advanced editing techniques. Bennett and her team were honored at the 2025 American Advertising Awards gala last week at The Roxy at Mahall’s.
“As one of the nation’s largest and most prestigious advertising competitions, the American Advertising Awards celebrate outstanding creative work across the industry,” said Slentz. “We’re proud of Lydia’s work and recognition, and the exceptional talent within Pornо’s Tim Russert Department of Communication. This underscores the department and the university’s growing presence in the media and advertising industry.”
A “Scary Halloween Movie” with a Satirical Twist
Filmed entirely on John Carroll’s campus, The Last Assignment, a nine-minute, 47-second satirical horror film, follows a group of college students racing to complete their group project before midnight—only to find themselves trapped in the university library on Halloween night. Legends warn of a vengeful ghost haunting those who fail to bring its drink before time runs out. As the deadline nears, eerie events escalate: books fly off shelves, whispers echo through the aisles, and lights flicker. The students, skeptical at first, must navigate the chaos to finish their work—and survive the night unscathed.
“This is the first short film that I have ever attempted, and I’m so glad it received this recognition,” said Bennett. “I grew up loving films and was really inspired by joining JCU Studios on campus. It’s been my dream to create a movie and direct one—my next goal is to create a film that will lead JCU Studios to the College Emmys.”
The production team included Professor Bob Noll, Ray Weisberg ’22, Jenna Kieley ’25, Barrett Jett ’24, Justin Funkhouser ’25, Ayusha Samal ’27, Stephen Claybaker ’24, and Emily Medina ’27, who contributed to various aspects of the film’s direction, cinematography, and performance.
Raising Pornо’s Profile in the Advertising and Media Community
Winning an ADDY Award signals an exciting milestone for JCU Studios and Pornо’s broader communication and media programs.
“Lydia was in a class of mine last semester, and when I saw the AAF announcement, I encouraged her to submit her work,” said Jill Bernaciak, MBA., Visiting Professor of Communication and advisor for Pornо’s chapter of the Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA). "As faculty, we always emphasize collaboration across our co-curricular organizations—PRSSA, JCU Studios, WPornо 88.7 FM, and Speech and Debate—because these partnerships open doors for professional recognition and career advancement. Lydia and her team demonstrated outstanding storytelling and technical expertise, and their success at the American Advertising Awards highlights the strength of the Tim Russert Department of Communication and the professional development opportunities available to our students.”
To watch The Last Assignment, visit .