The ADMA Creative School has celebrated its 24 graduates for this year, with Sydney builder Ernie Ciaschetti taking out the title of best in the class.

“Ernie didn’t have any advertising experience when he joined ADMA Creative School. But he worked his tail off and he’s shown the industry he’s already a very talented copywriter. Given how far he’s come so quickly, if he continues that rate of growth, he really could achieve it all,” said ADMA Creative School head tutor, Rob Morrison, creative director at OglivyOne.

Ernie is now interning at Banjo.

“One night, Ernie came running in straight from a job site in his construction gear. He read out his radio ad for the RUOK? brief and the room went silent. As a class we were blown away,” recalled Shelley Dodd, senior copywriter at MercerBell, who had worked with Ernie in her tutorial group. “We told him not to change a word. We knew there and then he had what it takes to be the top student.”

“As Ernie has demonstrated and as architect Charlie Grant did two years ago, exceptional talent can come from anywhere and we need programs that encourage individuals with diverse backgrounds to consider a career in marketing and advertising,” said ADMA CEO Jodie Sangster. “We have a skills shortage in Australia and it’s really important that we develop the next generation of creative talent for our industry.”

Also lauded on the night were Molly Cathcart, content and communications manager/designer at SeventeenHundred, who was voted Best Copywriter by the tutors, and Carina Lee, digital producer at Momento Pro, who was chosen Best Art Director.

Rob Morrison said all three students will do well in the industry. “They are definitely workplace ready and can deliver against a brief.”

Three students were also highly commended on the night: Hanh Nguyen, junior art director at Now Screen; Amelia Smith, writer/web assistant, Two Thousand, and Janina Canet, a freelance media producer/editor.

Rob added that this year’s crop of graduates were some of the best ever in the 12-year history of the Sydney Creative School.

ADMA Creative School is now also running in Melbourne under head tutor David Ponce de León, creative director at McCann Melbourne. The new school attracted 23 recruits in that city and the top students of the first graduating class will be announced next week.

Image: Left to right: Cream of the creative crop: Ernie Ciaschetti, Best in Class; Molly Cathcart, Best Copywriter, and Carina Lee, Best Art Director celebrate at the 2014 ADMA Creative School graduation.