AAF Increases Number of Most Promising Minority Recruits.

The American Advertising Federation (AAF) Most Promising Minority Students (MPMS) program is providing the highest level of qualified minority candidates in its history to corporations seeking top-tier advertising and marketing talent. Increasing by 60 percent in the last two years, the 2005 MPMS program is the advertising industry’s largest and most comprehensive diversity hiring solution. This year’s 40 graduating minority advertising seniors, an increase from the program’s initial 25, represent 33 colleges (see list below).

The AAF has amplified its list of candidates to 40 Most Promising finalists and 35 Most Promising honor roll students in response to increased corporate demand for hiring solutions that will broaden their employee diversity. In a recent survey of AAF executives, more than 80 percent of advertising leaders say attracting and retaining multicultural talent is extremely or very important. The AAF is responding with its largest Most Promising Minority
Student program ever, to be held February 8-10, 2005, at the New York Athletic Club in New York City. The Most Promising program, managed by the AAF Mosaic Center on Multiculturalism, has provided an unprecedented 247 minority candidates in its nine-year history by connecting recruiters with advertising students that demonstrate excellence.

“The AAF’s academic network is providing record numbers of outstanding young graduating advertising students to the industry,” said AAF President and CEO Wally Snyder. “We are really pleased to present this year’s outstanding minority candidates to the eager recruiters we know will be in attendance.”

This year’s presiding luncheon chair is Frank Cooper, VP-marketplace initiative development, Pepsi-Cola Company and Most Promising principal underwriter, and co-chairs are Sheena Payne, manager of advertising and promotions, American Airlines and Most Promising official airline, and Jill Manee, vice president/publisher, The Ad Age Group and Most Promising trade media partner. Other sponsors (to date) include Verizon Communications, USATODAY, ABC, ESPN, Interpublic Group, Knight Ridder, Leo Burnett, MTV Networks, Valassis, Association of National Advertisers, BBDO, BET, Johnson & Johnson, Meredith Corporation, Nielsen Media Research, Ogilvy & Mather, Saatchi & Saatchi, Burrell Communications, Campbell-Ewald, Cleveland Ad Club Education Foundation, Discovery Networks, District Two and Young & Rubicam New York.

Contact: Mary Hilton, (202) 371-2306 or mh*****@aa*.org

The American Advertising Federation (AAF), headquartered in Washington, D.C., acts as the “Unifying Voice for Advertising.” Celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2005, the AAF is the oldest national advertising trade association that represents 50,000 professionals in the advertising industry. The AAF has a national network of 200 ad clubs located in vibrant ad communities across the country. Through its 215 college chapters, the AAF provides 6,500 advertising students with real-world case studies and recruitment connections to corporate America. The AAF also has 130 blue chip corporate members that are advertisers, agencies and media companies, comprising the nation’s leading brands and corporations. For more information, visit the AAF’s Web site at http://www.aaf.org

AAF’s Most Promising Minority Students 2005 Finalists
Listed as
Student/ School/ Hometown

Kimberly M. Ahrens/ Iowa State University (Ames, Iowa)/ Bettendorf, Iowa
Tavis D. Bradshaw/ Long Island University (Brooklyn, N.Y.)/ Far Rockaway, N.Y.
Jason Campbell/ School of Visual Arts (New York, N.Y.)/ Bronx, N.Y.
Anjelica Caraballo/ The Pennsylvania State University (State College, Pa.)/ Ozone Park, NY
Marie Chaiart/ Columbia College – Chicago/ Chicago, Ill.
Dara Chen/ University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign/ Taipei, Taiwan
Feng Chen/ St. John’s University (Jamaica, N.Y.)/ New York, N.Y.
Jack Cheng/ University of Michigan (Ann Arbor, Mich.)/ Troy, Mich.
Larissa Jade Cole/ Syracuse University (Syracuse, N.Y.)/ Corpus Christi, Texas
Ceci De La Montanya/ University of San Francisco (Calif.)/ Rohnert Park, Calif.
Gloria Leigh Delgadillo/ University of Minnesota-Twin Cities (Minneapolis-St. Paul)/ Milwaukee, Wis.
Nikki Duong/ Southern Methodist University (Dallas, Texas)/ Irving, Texas
Camea Gilyard/ University of South Carolina (Columbia, S.C.)/ Dorchester, S.C.
Sarai Jones/ The Pennsylvania State University (State College, Pa.)/ Wallingford, Pa.
Danny Kim/ University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign/ Chicago, Ill.
Christina Kothari/ Michigan State University (East Lansing, Mich.)/ Northville, Mich.
Vina Ku/ University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign/ Naperville, Ill.
Angelica LeBelle/ Johnson & Wales University (Providence, R.I.)/ Cheong-Ju, South Korea
Tila Maceira/ University of San Francisco (Calif.)/ Modesto, Calif.
Chris Mickens/ Louisiana State University (Baton Rouge, La.)/ Miesenbach, Germany
Ashley Montgomery/ Georgia College & State University (Milledgeville, Ga.)/ Macon, Ga.
Jerome Moore Jr./ Wayne State University (Detroit, Mich.)/ Southfield, Mich.
Mark Moravits/ University of Oklahoma (Norman, Okla.)/ Round Rock, Texas
Phillip J. Neal/ Washington State University (Pullman, Wash.)/ Tacoma, Wash.
Mary Nhotsavang/ Ithaca College (Ithaca, N.Y.)/ Apple Valley, Minn.
Kathy Kwuntawee Nontasak/ University of Alabama (Birmingham, Ala.)/ Jackson, Miss.
Elijah Osorio/ Northwood University (Midland, Mich.)/ Mansfield, Ohio
Meena Patel/ George Washington University (Washington, D.C.)/ Temple, Pa.
Laura Phan/ Florida State University (Tallahassee, Fla.)/ Miramar, Fla.
Jeannie Anne G. Pinpin/ Chaminade University of Honolulu/ Waipahu, Hawaii
Kathy Puangkham/ University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign/ Roselle, Ill.
Graciela Ramirez/ The Art Institute of California – San Diego/ San Diego, Calif.
Marleny Ramirez/ Southern Methodist University (Dallas, Texas)/ Garland, Texas
Steven S. Rodriguez/ Boston University (Boston, Mass.)/ Miami Lakes, Fla.
Carla Rutledge/ Howard University (Washington D.C.)/ Detroit, Mich.
Anna M. Simpson/ University of Oklahoma (Norman, Okla.)/ Edmond, Okla.
Ming Tsung Tsang/ Ohio University (Athens, Ohio)/ Athens, Ohio
Christina Ung/ Loyola University New Orleans (La.)/ Houston, Texas
Tiondra L. Willingham/ University of Louisville (Ky.)/ Louisville, Ky.
Shonda Womack/ Northwood University (Midland, Mich.)/ Detroit, Mich.

AAF Most Promising Minority Students 2005 Judges
Doug Alligood, VP-special markets manager, BBDO Worldwide
Theresa Aulman, human resources manager, Ogilvy & Mather Worldwide
Yvette Caldwell, president & CEO, Caldwell Integrated Marketing Communications
Holly Capps, local ad sales manager, Cox Media Northern Virginia
Anne Kissel Elliot, VP, marketing communications, Nielsen Media Research
Roselyn Jacobs, director, human resources, USA TODAY
Kevin Johnson, marketing director, DC Lottery and Charitable Games Control Board
Aiesha Powell, research director, Ebony-Jet
Carol Spann, human resources, Valassis
Tiffany Warren, manager, diversity programs, American Association of Advertising Agencies
David White, managing partner, director-account services, Eisner Underground