Students Participate in National Advertising Competition

      Fifteen University of Scranton seniors participated in the American Advertising Federation’s National Students Advertising Competition as part of a six-credit, two-semester course taught by Communication professor Stacy Smulowitz, Ph.D. candidate. One hundred and fifty student teams from colleges across the country created and presented comprehensive advertising campaigns for State Farm Insurance that targeted 18 to 25 year-olds.

      Based on market research, including a nationwide survey, The University of Scranton students developed a $40 million campaign that included television commercials, magazine advertisements, billboards and other promotions. The students presented their plan at the District 2 Competition held recently in New York City and won “Best in Experiential Marketing.” Teams from George Washington University and Syracuse University won the overall District 2 Competition to advance the final round of the national competition, which will be held in June.

Representing The University of Scranton are, seated from left, Stacy Smulowitz, Ph.D candidate, instructor; Brianne McMillan, Brick, N.J.; Julia Gallagher, Maplewood, N.J.; Emily MacPhee, Holland; and Kristen Glazer, Northport N.Y.  Standing from left are Megan Phelan, Huntington, N.Y.; Nicole Morgan, Moscow; Amanda Ceo, Morrisville; Mary Desmarais, Vienna, Va.; Bethany Phillips, Middlesex, N.J.; Elizabeth Hurley, Piscataway, N.J.; Casey Wunsch, Odessa, Fla.; Maribeth Hobson, Winder, Ga.; Erin Harrison, Floral Park, N.Y.; Elizabeth Burke, Rockaway Point, N.Y.; and Damien McDonald, Brooklyn, N.Y.