VCU graduates’ ads air during Super Bowl

By Malorie Burkett

The creative works of a Virginia Commonwealth University AdCenter graduate and a School of Mass Communications alumnus aired during Super Bowl 2005.

Patrick McKay, a 2001 graduate of the VCU AdCenter, made the lineup with his ads for the mortgage company Ameriquest. Employed by the advertising agency DDB LA, McKay served as copywriter for the Ameriquest ads. According to an online poll by USA Today.com’s Ad meter, the Ameriquest ad featuring a cat knocking over a pot of spaghetti sauce has been voted one of the best Super Bowl ads.

Before working with DDB LA, McKay worked alongside Kevin Ragland at the Richmond-based Martin Agency. Ragland also was part of a creative team whose ads aired during this year’s Super Bowl.

A 1993 graduate of the School of Mass Communications, Ragland served as senior art director for the Olympus ads, which ranked among the top 25 Super Bowl ads, according to Ad Track – a poll conducted by USA Today and Harris Interactive. The Ad Track poll gauges how much consumers like an advertising campaign and how effective they believe the ads are in helping to sell the product.

To view the ads, and other spots from Super Bowl 2005, visit http://dyn.ifilm.com/superbowlads/.