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Innovative Partnership Between Aflac and SCAD Students

Aflac, a leading supplemental health insurance provider, has made headlines with its new initiative that bridges the gap between corporate creativity and educational experience. The company's recent collaboration with students from the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) has resulted in an engaging national television advertisement titled "Duck Dunk." This initiative is part of Aflac's inaugural internship program, named Dagger X Aflac, in partnership with the creative agency Dagger.

Launching Duck Dunk

The Duck Dunk commercial has caught the attention of many due to its impressive lineup of celebrity appearances, including Dawn Staley, the renowned head coach of the South Carolina Gamecocks women's basketball team, and Andraya Carter, an accomplished analyst at ESPN and SEC Network. Additionally, Allisha Gray, a standout guard for the Atlanta Dream and two-time WNBA All-Star, features prominently in the ad, emphasizing the intersection of sports, equity, and creativity.

The interns from SCAD were actively involved in developing the Duck Dunk concept, a process that included collaborating closely with Aflac's Chief Marketing Officer, Garth Knutson. Under his creative direction, the advertisement includes a cleverly hidden Easter egg, which is a nod to Allisha's remarkable achievements during the WNBA All-Star Weekend. In a significant move to promote equality in sports, Aflac showcased a check amounting to a staggering $110,000, which represented more than half of Allisha's annual salary. This highlights Aflac's commitment to addressing the pay disparity that female athletes face compared to their male counterparts, particularly in the context of NBA competitions.

Addressing Equity in Sports

Historically, male NBA players have been able to win up to $55,000 per contest during All-Star events, while female athletes have received significantly less, often only around $2,575. With the backing of Aflac, female WNBA winners will now receive $55,000, bringing a much-needed change to create a more equitable playing field for athletes in women's sports. This initiative illustrates Aflac's progressive stance on social issues and its dedication to supporting female athletes.

Fostering Creative Talent

Garth Knutson shares his excitement about the partnership, stating, "One of the nation's hottest hotbeds of creative talent is right in our backyard. How better to keep a duck fresh than by recruiting some of the most creative minds in the country to work with us?" The enthusiasm for this initiative underscores Aflac's commitment to blending innovative ideas with practical experience.

After the triumphant launch of the Duck Dunk commercial, Aflac and Dagger are gearing up for their next internship cycle during the summer of 2025. They are currently on the lookout for the upcoming cohort of interns, with four exciting positions available in Art Direction, Copywriting, Design, and Content Creation. This program offers students invaluable opportunities to collaborate closely with Aflac's creative team while producing real-world work to be featured publicly.

Aflac and Dagger will hold a recruitment event at SCAD Atlanta on January 21, providing prospective applicants with insights into the internship opportunities for 2025. Interested students can submit their applications by January 26, 2025, marking a chance to be part of this innovative program.

About Aflac and Dagger

Aflac, incorporated under NYSE AFL, has been at the forefront of supplemental health insurance for nearly seventy years, providing financial protection to millions of customers in the U.S. and Japan. Known for its ethical practices, Aflac has appeared in the World's Most Ethical Companies list for 18 consecutive years and has been recognized as one of Fortune's Most Admired Companies for 23 years.

Dagger, the creative agency collaborating with Aflac, is an independent firm based in Atlanta, Georgia, focused on brand-building and innovative strategies tailored for today's market. With a belief in cultural relevance, Dagger aims to empower brands by prioritizing bold content and storytelling across various platforms. Recent collaborations include various notable clients alongside Aflac.

This partnership not only demonstrates the power of creative collaboration but also sets a notable precedent for how corporate entities can positively influence social issues through innovative advertising efforts.