American Advertising Federation names two J-School students among nation's "Most Promising Minority Students"

By Lindsay Brasington

University of South Carolina advertising seniors Tashia Goodwine and Amber Guyton have been selected by the American Advertising Federation Foundation as two of the nation's “Most Promising Minority Students” of 2008.

Goodwine, from Ridgeville, and Guyton, from Pineville, are among 50 nationally recognized recipients of the awards. USC students have consistently received this award since the program began 12 years ago, a record for any university.

The Most Promising Minority Student award recognizes top minority students across the country who show academic and extracurricular leadership, as well as a promising future in the fields of advertising, marketing, media or communications.

Goodwine is the publicity chairwoman for both SAVVY and Dance Marathon and a member of the National Honor Society. She has received the Rick Temple Journalism Scholarship and the Delta Sigma Theta Finer Womanhood Award, and she works as a counselor in USC's Minority Assistance Peer Program.

Goodwine also has taken part in the Diversity Leadership Program at New York's Hofstra University, and she was a KCSA Worldwide Public Relations PR/AD intern and a Drake Corporate Housing Marketing operations manager intern and event planner.

“What she provides is a balance of understanding coming from a northern and southern influence and culture,” said Arieus Alcide, application consultant for the College of Arts and Sciences computer center. “She has had to maintain excellence in cross-cultures and therefore brings that adaptability and flexibility to a creative problem.”

Those who nominated Goodwine for the Most Promising Minority Student award described her as an insightful advertising student and a gifted communicator. “Tashia is a bundle of positive energy,” said advertising Professor Bonnie Drewniany. “But what truly sets her apart from other talented students is her enthusiasm.”

In her application for the award, Goodwine said, “Scrutinizing the obstacles placed in front of me, I discovered life’s ups and downs provided windows of opportunities to further determine the values I possess today; thus viewing these obstacles as stepping stones to reach my journey to success.”

Guyton, the other award recipient from USC, is president of the Association of African American Students and has been a public relations/advertising intern for Communities in Schools of South Carolina Inc. She is a member of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority.

Guyton is a member of the Richland County School District 1 JUMP Mentoring Program, a Gamma Beta Phi Honor Society student and a member of the National Association of Black Journalists. She is also a volunteer at the Waverly Community Center After-School Program and the Wesley United Methodist Church Manna Station.

Those nominating Guyton praised her leadership skills and how driven she is in advertising. “I’ve been most impressed by her ability to conduct research and find key consumer insights. It is this ability to uncover human truths about a brand that will help her go far in advertising,” Drewniany said.

“I am motivated by everything in life, motivated by everything I do and motivate others every time I have the opportunity to do so", Guyton said. "I never allow myself to lead without following or teach without learning.”

Rico R. Reed of USC's National Resource Center for The First-Year Experience and Students in Transition said it "has been quite an inspiration" to watch Guyton during the academic year.

“It is obvious that Ms. Guyton is building a base of experience through her internship this semester with Communities in Schools of South Carolina that is preparing her for a career in this field,” said Reed, the center's coordinator of public relations and resource development

Guyton and Goodwine received their awards at AAF’s 2008 Most Promising Minority Student Program in New York, Feb. 5-7.

The program connects the advertising industry with the nation's top minority college seniors. It not only honors students, but also enhances their knowledge and understanding of the advertising industry by offering networking, interviewing and shadowing opportunities with industry professionals.

Lindsay Brasington has a B.A. in English from Clemson University. She is working on her Master of Mass Communication in print journalism at the USC School of Journalism and Mass Communications.