Speak Out
Megan Wiedenhaefer
Outstanding Senior in Advertising

Dr. Lynn Zoch on Megan's accomplishments:

Megan is a December graduate who is currently working for Lamar Advertising. She was recently recognized as the top Lamar Rookie for leading the region in sales.

Megan is a recipient of the prestigious Vance Stickell internship and was recognized as one of the top 20 American Advertising Federation students in the US in 2007.

She was also a recipient of the Columbia Ad Club Clyde Ellisor Scholarship and the Budweiser of Columbia, Inc. Scholarship.

She is also the 2007 winner of the 2007 Caroliniana Award for her contributions to organizations in the Carolina community.

Megan Speaks Out:

Why did you choose USC?

As a northerner or “darn yankee" I knew I wanted to live somewhere different. I wanted to experience a different area of the country. After touring various colleges, USC just felt like the right fit for me.

Why advertising?

In high school, I took a design class where you would create pieces of marketing material as well as product packaging. It was an easy “A” class, but I realized I’d stay after and work harder to perfect every project. I cared too much. That's when I realized I loved advertising.

Favorite/most beneficial class?

Creative Strategy. Creative strategy is the very reason I love advertising. It's taking consumer research (all that dry statistic stuff) and twisting it into this wildly interesting and creative piece. It can drive you crazy because you could think for hours about possible campaigns and then when your not thinking about it, the idea comes. Go figure. Also, it doesn't hurt that I had the wildily interesting Professor Drewniany as my Creative Strategy teacher. Her enthusiam is infectious (and so is her laughter).

What will you miss most about college?

Flip Flops---every day. I may try to start a crusade in the business world. Business suits and flop flops should be the next big thing. Who's with me?

And you won't miss?

Papers….2 pages or 15 pages…I won’t miss them a bit.

What are you really passionate about?

Impacting the community. It could be the ad community or Columbia or the world at large. Everybody has to make their mark in the world.

Has there been a "defining moment" or significant event  in your college experience?

I was awarded a scholarship that placed me in New York at Newsday to learn the art of advertising sales. At first, I'll admit I wasn't too hot on the idea. I didn't think sales was my thing. After spending a successful summer at Newsday, I realized advertising sales is something I really enjoy and I'm good at.

What do you hope to do after graduation?

Prove my worth in the advertising world. It's one thing to take classes and have a successful college career. Once you graduate, you really have to be able to apply that knowlege in real time.

Do you have any advice or words of wisdom for other students in your major?

Like Avis...try harder. The students who win awards, recognition and land dream jobs are the ones that are trying harder than everyone else. They're out there networking at every opportunity and taking any opportunity they get and making more of it.

Any parting words or something you'd like to say to your SJMC family, or anyone else, before you head out the door?

I don't think any words could express the gratitude I feel to my professors in the J-School. The opportunities and challenges I have had with my professors has influenced every aspect of my school and professional life. The advice and the memories will never be forgotten.

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