University Park, Pa. -- For the third consecutive year, the American Advertising Federation (AAF) has honored four students from the College of Communications at Penn State in its Most Promising Minority Students Program.
The program, managed by the AAF Mosaic Center on Multiculturalism, connects recruiters and agencies in the advertising industry with exceptionally talented advertising students.
All four Penn State students — Phoebe Chan from Royersford, Pa.; Ellis Luk, from Hong Kong; Jordan Norwood from State College, Pa.; and Sara M. Pereira from Tokyo — were chosen as national finalists. All four are majoring in advertising/public relations.
Fifty students from more than 100 colleges were honored and selected to receive an all-expenses-paid trip to New York City to be honored at a luncheon Feb. 6 during the AAF Minority Conference at The New York Athletic Club.
"Having this number of national winners is a strong testament to the quality of our Penn State students and the advertising program in the College of Communications," said Penn State’s AAF chapter adviser, Ken Yednock, a senior lecturer who served as principal and chief operating officer at GKV Communications in Baltimore before joining the University faculty in 2004.
In order to be considered for the program, students had to complete a 250-word essay, provide a resume and possess a minimum 3.2 grade-point average overall and a 3.22 grade-point average in their major. Their submissions were then judged and voted on by the AAF chapter in Washington, D.C.
At the conference, which runs from Feb. 5 to Feb. 7, students will have the opportunity to test the waters of the communications industry with professionals from the field. Recruiters from big-name agencies and companies will be available to answer questions and offer insights. The conference will also include professional development seminars, industry immersion sessions and agency tours.
"This is a prestigious award for each of these students that can become a springboard for future careers in advertising and communications," Yednock said. During his time in the private sector with advertising agencies, Yednock managed accounts for companies such as Keebler, Kentucky Fried Chicken, Lowe's Home Centers, National Car Rental, Pillsbury, Royal Crown Cola and more.
In addition to attending the AAF conference, the national winners will by recognized by having their pictures appear in Advertising Age and their resumes featured in a book distributed to AAF members and their companies.
Since its inception in 1997, the Most Promising Minority Students Program has enriched the lives of more than 300 outstanding multicultural students and is considered to be the premier award program with which to recruit minority college graduates in the areas of advertising, marketing, media and communications.
The contest has been in existence for 12 years. In the past four years alone, Penn State has produced 18 honorees, with 12 national finalists and six honor roll selections.