While most students were still enjoying a break from academics in between semesters, a team of WMU students, now recent alumni, took the top spot at a national competition in Washington D.C.—and helped at-risk youth at the same time.
Nine advertising and promotion students from the Haworth College of Business competed in the EdVenture Partners’ Jobs for America’s Graduates Scholastic Achievement Award Challenge. Jobs for America’s Graduates (JAG) is a state-based national non-profit organization dedicated to preventing dropouts and advocating for post-secondary education among at-risk youth.
The competition included answering analytical questions from high level executives regarding JAG’s brand positioning, communication strategies, and other marketing tactics.
This year’s team included fall graduates Paige Moyer, Aaron Coney, Rachel Dudley, Jon Burns, Joe Taylor, Becca Wilson, Kristin Robarge, Ashleigh Cipta and Jenna Grodecki. The students participated in the competition as a part of their fall 2012 capstone work for the Integrated Marketing Communications Campaigns course, advised by Dr. JoAnn Atkin.
“We have had the honor of having Western Michigan University students develop marketing communication campaigns for our clients in the past, and their results always impress,” says Tony Sgro, founder and CEO of EdVenture Partners, a consultancy that develops industry-education partnerships on campuses in North America. “The WMU team created a bold, integrated marketing campaign that will be used by JAG to generate additional awareness and support for its nationally based at-risk youth campaign.”
WMU has participated in the EdVenture Partners National Case Study Competitions since 2005, placing in the top 10 nationally each year.