Aflac's inaugural Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) internship program, Dagger X Aflac, in partnership with the creative agency Dagger, has resulted in the production of a national television ad titled Duck Dunk. The commercial is making waves due to its all-star lineup of celebrity appearances, including Dawn Staley, head coach of the South Carolina Gamecocks women's basketball team; Andraya Carter, ESPN and SEC Network analyst and WNBA reporter; and Allisha Gray, guard for the Atlanta Dream. A two-time WNBA All-Star, Gray made history as the first player to win both the WNBA Kia Skills Challenge and the Starry 3-Point Contest during WNBA All-Star Weekend.

The SCAD interns not only developed the concept for the Duck Dunk commercial but also worked closely with Aflac's Chief Marketing Officer, Garth Knutson, who had the creative vision to include a cleverly hidden Easter egg in the ad: Allisha's All-Star Weekend prize money check, presented by Aflac. The impressive $110,000 prize amounted to more than 50% of her annual salary earned in just one night. This subtle nod highlights Aflac's dedication to equality in sports. Historically, male players in the NBA All-Star competitions could win up to $55,000 per contest, while female WNBA winners received only $2,575. Aflac stepped in to level the playing field by committing $55,000 to each WNBA competition winner, ensuring equity in recognition and rewards.

"One of the nation's hottest hotbeds of creative talent is right in our backyard," said Garth Knutson, Chief Marketing Officer at Aflac. "How better to keep a 20-something-year-old duck fresh than by recruiting some of the most creative 20-something minds in the country to come and work with us."

Following the success of the 2024 Dagger X Aflac internship program, Aflac and Dagger are excited to continue the initiative this summer. The organizations are currently searching for the next generation of innovative talent and will be welcoming four new interns this summer. The available positions include Art Direction, Copywriting, Design and Content Creation, providing interns with the chance to contribute and collaborate closely with the Aflac Creative Team. The program's immersive curriculum offers hands-on agency experience, allowing interns to produce real-world work that will be showcased in the public sphere.

Aflac and Dagger will be at SCAD Atlanta on January 21 for a recruitment visit, offering students an opportunity to learn more about the 2025 Dagger X Aflac internship program. Ambitious SCAD students looking to apply can submit their applications here through Jan. 26, 2025.