FEBRUARY 2006

It all "ads" up
29 students + 1 advisor = 10 years of national recognition from the American Advertising Federation.

Three USC students — the most ever for the School of Journalism and Mass Communications — are among the American Advertising Federation's Most Promising Minority Students in the nation.

Kelly Cheung, Justin Thomas Williams and Kelly Wright were recognized for their accomplishments during a program at the New York Athletic Club on Feb. 7-9, as were Jennifer Lucia Gomez and Keli Walker, who were named to AAF’s honor roll.

The students were selected based on academic standing, leadership, community service and a demonstrated interest in the communications industry. All five were featured in the Feb. 6 issue of Advertising Age.

Dr. Shirley Staples Carter, director of the School of Journalism, applauded the award recipients. "Congratulations to this year's winners, who as with past winners, are an outstanding example of the excellent students we attract to our program, and the high quality instruction and preparation they have received from our faculty."

At least one South Carolina student has been honored every year since the AAF's award began in 1997, said Bonnie Drewniany, an associate professor of advertising. (Find out who they are and what some of them have been up to since being named Most Promising. Read more>>)

“On two occasions, we have had two students receive the Most Promising honor. But to have three Most Promising students — plus two Honor Roll recipients — is truly exceptional,” she said.

Drewniany, who organizes the nomination process in her role as faculty advisor to the Student Advertising Federation, said the honors are becoming well-known. “My colleagues now stop me in the hallway to tell me they know of a student who should be nominated,” she said.

She is especially proud that of the more than 200 college chapters of AAF, only the University of South Carolina, Howard University and the University of Illinois have had recipients each year.

This achievement, and the professor responsible for it, was honored at the Feb. 8 luncheon when Professor Drewniany received a special award of recognition for being the only professor in the nation to nominate a winning student every year. "We salute Prof. Drewniany for this outstanding achievement," Dr. Carter said.

Meet the 2006 winners

Kelly Cheung
An advertising major, Kelly is also enrolled in the Honors College and has participated in a Study Abroad program in Australia.

Hogan Gidley, senior strategist at the Chernoff Newman advertising agency and Kelly’s internship supervisor, said: “AAF would greatly benefit from a young adult like Kelly. She is the future of our business, and that future is in extraordinarily brilliant hands. But Kelly is way more than just smart and talented. Our business requires some outlandish hours, and she is always available to help. Early, late, using elbow grease, it just does not matter because Kelly has one of the strongest work ethics I’ve ever seen.”

Jennifer Lucia Gomez
Jennifer is an advertising major who helped reinstate Students Associated for Latin America and has served as its president, vice president, treasurer and secretary. She received the Office of Multicultural Student Affairs award for academic achievement and USC’s award for Hispanic leadership.

Carl R. Wells, USC’s director of access and equity-diversity training, said: “Jennifer possesses vision and leadership abilities beyond her years. It has been my observation that Jennifer excels at all she undertakes, whether leading her peers, participating in the classroom experience, networking with faculty and staff, or motivating and inspiring other students.”

Keli Walker
Keli graduated in Dec. 2005 with a degree in advertising. At USC, she was a track and field athlete and contributed to the track team’s 2002 national championship. She has also earned the Southeastern Conference Honor Roll and Iron Gamecock awards.

“I have seen her intelligence and hard work displayed regularly in the classroom," said Lee Wenthe, a visiting associate professor. "I know the amount of work and time management that is important to be a successful athlete, and those qualities will help her as an account manager. She is also outgoing, quietly confident and determined, and a strong leader.”

Justin Williams
Justin is a public relations major. He is Student Body President and holds an ex-officio seat with the University’s Board of Trustees.

USC President Andrew A. Sorensen supported Justin’s nomination: “In my 24 years in higher education administration, I have never worked with a more dedicated and committed Student Body President. Justin possesses superb leadership qualities. He is honest and highly dependable, follows through on all proposed initiatives, and commands the respect of those with whom he works — both students and faculty.”

Kelly Wright
An advertising major, Kelly is co-founder and poetry editor of USC’s The Lettered Olive and serves on the public relations staff of The Garnet & Black magazine and the concert commission staff of Carolina Productions.

This past summer, she received a nationally competitive internship sponsored by the American Association of Advertising Agencies and interned with the Busch Entertainment Corp. team of Momentum Worldwide, based in St. Louis. “Kelly is one of those bright, eager students that every professor wants,” Drewniany said.