VCU Brandcenter Week 2014 kicks off with Mr. Garrick Sheldon. Part of the fun of putting together a student book is that you not only get to go crazy creative with the work, but also with clients/projects. Garrick’s Monsanto campaign “In search of solutions, not popularity” flips the finger at protesters in the name solving world hunger. His Gas-X campaign “Focus” is a series of short documentaries about people who need less distractions on the job—female and male strippers is the first (above), bomb technicians will be the second. His LegalZoom.com campaign “Garage, Inc.” is about connecting entrepreneurs with investors who are willing to invest workspace. Dig it.

Portfolio: garricksheldon.com

Ladies and gentlemen, MC is honored to present the portfolio sites of the 2013 VCU Brandcenter graduating copywriters (in alphabetical order):

Adam Tetreault: adamdtetreault.com

Andrew Kong: andrewckong.com

Atain Ibia: atain.me

Chris Martin: notthatchrismartin.com

Christina Semak: christinasemak.com

Daniel Chen: thedanielchen.com

Don Principe: thedonprincipe.com

Evelynne Scholnick: evelynnes.com

Faye Ibars: fayeibars.com

Gary Baker: andthenithought.com

Ian Downey: upsidedowney.com

Kai Neddersen: kaineddersen.com

Katlyn Williams: katlynwilliams.com

Maddison Bradley: maddisonbradley.com

Mary Gross: maryfgross.com

Matt Meszaros: mattmeszaros.com

Matt Skibiak: mattskibiak.com

Megan Winterhalter: meganwinterhalter.com

Michelle Lamont: michellelamont.com

Taylor Schumaker: taylorschumaker.com

Zac Milner: zacmilner.com

VCU Brandcenter Week Tuesday: Mr. Daniel Chen. Lots of fun writing all over his site, including a type solution campaign for Wonderbra (not kidding) and Sad Children’s Projects, which really is one of the saddest things MC has ever seen in a portfolio. Macaroni WE CAN’T AFFORD THIS and homemade 3RD FAVORITE SON medal. Yes.

Portfolio: thedanielchen.com

Another stand-up comic. Another affiliation with the Upright Citizen’s Brigade. Another killer student book proving that: #1 Comedians make awesome copywriters and #2 VCU is one of the top copywriting schools for comedians on the planet.

Portfolio: simonphilion.com

Check out Rebecca’s cool campaigns for Foursquare, Hanes, Mini Thrill Rides, and Carfax. Love the writing of her site, too. Rebecca’s got a wicked smart, snappy voice that’s just fun to read. Almost as fun as her Visual Addendum page, featuring the above photo. Quality.

Portfolio: rebeccaullman.com

VCU is so hooked into the industry, you know that themes in VCU student books are themes agencies are asking to see. In Adam’s, one of those themes is loud and clear: crazy innovation. Or, outlandish entrepreneurial strategic grenades. Something like that. He’s got an end-of-the-world campaign for Costco, Get Gay Married human rights campaign, one for an even faster version of Ramen, and a New Balance race for seniors called The Geriathlon.

Portfolio: heckvetica.com

MC has often said that surfers make good copywriters. Surfers and drummers. Got another one to add to that list: comedians. Don’t know if she surfs or drums, but Claire is funny. Before VCU, she studied improv at Middlebury College, and at Improv Olympic and Upright Citizen’s Brigade. It shows. Smart, hilarious, fantastic writing all over her portfolio.

Portfolio: clairewyckoff.com

Barbara Schwartz – baschwartz.com

Chris Stephens – awisebeardedwriter.com

Dylan Meagher – dylanmeagher.com

Grace Harris – lydiagraceharris.com

Heather Ryder – heather-ryder.com

Joe Hagel – joehagel.com

John Colin Quinn – johncolinquinn.com

Matt Spicer – mattspicer.com

Mike Nichols – tallmikenichols.com

Natalie Hammel – nataliehammel.com

Nate Totten – natetotten.com

Talia Ledner – beersontheroof.com

Chris just accepted a job as a Jr Copywriter at Chiat NY. (Yes!) Right out of school, just like that.

Portfolio: awisebeardedwriter.com

Nate is graduating from VCU on May 22nd. He calls himself Man Of The Wind. “Oh, he’s from Chicago,” you think. Nope, Kansas. “Then why not Dust In The Wind?” you ask. Because Nate’s so young, he’s probably never heard Dust In The Wind. “Oh God, I’m old,” you think. Me too.

Portfolio: natetotten.com

Colin graduates from VCU in May. There’s a ton of good writing on his site. Diamond Toothpicks is hilarious. Check out his rez, which is a big map of the world. Where hasn’t he taught English?

Portfolio: johncolinquinn.com

Natalie will graduate from VCU in May. Her portfolio site is titled DIE FAT: “Die Fat is an attitude, approach toward life and a social experiment. I was put on this planet to be a sponge and I won’t be satisfied until I soak up every bit of curious matter in my surroundings and non-surroundings. Like creative chlorophyll, I get my breath from absorbing the world’s ecstatic experiences. Die Fat is how I want to live every day until the day I die fat.” 

Portfolio: nataliehammel.com

Dylan will graduate from VCU on May 22nd. It’s so interesting to compare student books from different schools. (Note: No favorites here. All of the schools featured on MC are awesome.) Dylan’s portfolio is all about integrated case studies. Check out Pampers. He’s thought of everything. 

Portfolio: dylanmeagher.com