February 2009

Student named among nation’s most promising
minority students
Advertising adviser keeps streak alive

The American Advertising Federation has named journalism student Courtney Robinson among the most promising minority students in America.

Robinson, a senior advertising major from Simpsonville, was honored Wednesday, Feb. 4, in New York City where she also got to meet with top ad/PR executives. She was among 40 students honored for academic achievement, interest in the advertising industry, leadership and community service. The aim of the AAF award is to recognize and recruit outstanding minority college graduates in advertising, marketing, media and communications.

Robinson is a marketing intern with the university’s Office of Marketing and Communications. She also has interned with Macy’s Central in Atlanta and Erwin-Penland Advertising in Greenville.

Robinson is actively engaged on campus also. She serves as Secretary of Minority Affairs for the Student Government, is a Freshman Council Advisor for the Association of African American Students and is Community Service Chairperson of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority.

In her application for the award, Robinson describes herself as "diligent, tenacious, professional, creative, team-oriented." She said her internships and activities at USC have increased her sense of value for diversity and inclusion. She wrote, "As a confident black female, I hope to bring the leadership potential to implement a global perspective and diversify the way the industry works and serves."

Two students named to AAF's Honor Roll

University advertising students Noelle Williams and Katie Okawa were named to the AAF’s Honor Roll.

Williams, a senior from Hollywood, S.C., has interned with the Post and Courier in Charleston. Okawa, a senior from Aiken, is a marketing assistant and public-relations specialist at ECI-Find New Markets and has interned with the Marketing Performance Group in Columbia.

Faculty adviser streak continues

Bonnie Drewniany is faculty adviser for the Journalism School's American Advertising Federation student chapter. She is the only professor in the nation to have had selected at least one student for the AAF honor since the award was created in 1997.