 "Photo: May-Ying Lam, Daily Texan Staff")
University of Texas advertising seniors Christina Chan, Jocelyn Lai, Cecilia Wong and Linda Yang have been named 2009 Most Promising Minority Students by the American Advertising Federation.
The federation chooses 40 seniors nationwide for its annual distinction.
“It’s more meaningful to me now as a senior,” Wong said. “It’s a culmination of everything I’ve done these past four years. It’s a great honor to have.”
All four students were nominated by advertising professor John Murphy, who accepted recommendations from the department’s faculty and advised certain students to participate. Previous winners have gone on to work in New York City and Hollywood, Murphy said.
Murphy said initiative, intelligence and academic achievement are prerequisites for nomination in the program.
The American Advertising Federation will take the recipients to New York City in February for a series of networking and recruiting events where 60 companies in the industry will be present, Murphy said. It promotes integration of different cultures in the industry.
The recipients will receive training courses in networking and career-building skills, according to a UT press release.
Jocelyn Lai, who specializes in multicultural marketing, agrees with the need for more minorities in advertising. Her previous internships include working in Chicago for the multicultural division of Starcom, a media agency, and the local Austin marketing firm LatinWorks.
“Multiculturalism and bringing diversity into the industry is something that’s really close to my heart,” Lai said.
The networking events will provide the seniors with contacts and possible job offers in the future.
“There’s so much more out there, which is scary because it means I have to make more decisions,” Lai said.
Lai recommends that students starting out in the advertising program do not become discouraged by a lack of advertising experience.
“Be confident about your experience,” Lai said. “Be confident about who you are. Anything really will work. It’s just what you make of it.”
Christina Chan said her family is proud of her achievement.
“They just told me to follow my dreams and they would support me in every way,” Chan said.
p.s. keep up the good work roomie (jill) ;)