Advertising students snag two of five statewide scholarships
KALAMAZOO, Mich.—Two advertising and promotion students from Western Michigan University's Haworth College of Business are among just five students statewide to win 2014-15 scholarships from the Adcraft Club of Detroit's Adcraft Foundation.
Robert Carroll of Saline, a senior majoring in advertising and promotion and minoring in finance, communication and general business, received a $1,500 scholarship. Carroll is active in WMU’s AdClub, where he holds the position of membership and finance coordinator. He is currently an advertising quality assurance intern at Adtegrity in Grand Rapids.
Carroll was nominated by Dr. Karen M. Lancendorfer, associate professor of marketing and director of the advertising and promotion program.
"Robbie looks at advertising with a different lens; with a financial and return on investment focus," says Lancendorfer. "While critically analyzing ads, he also wants to know whether sales and market share increased—and by how much—and if those figures offset the expenses of the campaign. I love that he can see beyond the creativity of the message to the overall goal of the campaign. Robbie is so focused and committed that I know he’ll be able to overcome any challenges he faces in his future career."
Andrew Barrowman of Roseville, an advertising and promotion major with minors in sociology and general business, received a $1,500 scholarship. He was also the recipient of the Ed Rossman Scholarship, in honor of lifetime Adcraft member Ed Rossman, for an additional $1,500. Barrowman has been active with WMU’s AdClub and Drive Safe Kalamazoo. He also serves as an advertising quality assurance intern at Adtegrity in Grand Rapids.
Barrowman was nominated by Dr. JoAnn Atkin, associate professor of marketing.
"Andrew was a clear candidate for this award," says Atkin. "His GPA puts him near the top of his class in our major. He is also pursuing a minor in sociology and is involved in our student AdClub where we expect him to take a leadership role next year. He is the first of his family to go to college and is driven to succeed for himself and his family. To me, the success he has achieved to date is only a small testament of what he can and will achieve in the future."
Cash grants for students
The Adcraft Club of Detroit is the nation's largest advertising club. Its foundation annually awards cash grants to advertising and marketing students from Michigan universities. Students are nominated by faculty members and must submit an application and transcript, along with an essay demonstrating their knowledge and understanding of the advertising business. Winners were presented their scholarships and honored, along with their faculty advisors, during an Adcraft luncheon reception in May featuring well-known television host Dr. Oz in Troy.
"I was in shock when I saw that I had won a scholarship," says Carroll. "It feels great to be recognized for all of my hard work and know that I am heading in the right direction. Without AdClub and my advisors, I would have never been able to receive this great scholarship."
Winning two scholarships was especially rewarding for Barrowman.
"When Dr. Atkin told me she nominated me for the Adcraft scholarship I couldn’t have been more honored and excited," says Barrowman. "Getting the news that I had won two separate scholarships was almost unreal. It was such an honor to be awarded such prestigious scholarships."