Victory Leads to Visits at Global Media Giants in New York City

Four talented AAMU marketing students recently earned first place and a check for $3,000 in the American Advertising Federation (AAF) HBCUs for Advertising competition, The win also secured an exclusive tour of leading media companies in New York City, including Universal McCann, iHeart Media, and Google.

The AAF’s HBCUs for Advertising program is designed to break down financial, academic, and logistical barriers often faced by underfunded HBCUs, providing underrepresented students with the support they need to launch successful advertising careers.

“Our challenge was to develop an iHeart initiative that leverages our owned and operated channels to help brands understand the significance of radio for Gen Z,” said team member and Alabama A&M Associate Professor of Marketing, Dr. Alicia Cooper. “The solution could involve advertising, a new program across our airwaves, or even a B2B event to educate about Gen Z's radio consumption.”

The winning team consisted of rising seniors Amirah Ali and Joseph Tilaye, along with recent graduates Ashley Alexander and Tyleon Tate. They were guided by expert coaches, including Steve Hall, Senior Lecturer in Advertising at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign; Michael Edwards, Jr., Vice President of Activation for IPG Media Brands; and Katelyn Tyrrell, Senior Vice President of Group Partner, Enterprise Excellence at UM Worldwide.

As a reward for their outstanding achievement, the team traveled to New York City July 25-28, where they toured some of the world’s most influential media companies. “We gained invaluable insights into the inner workings of these companies and had the chance to connect with industry professionals,” added Cooper. “It was an incredible experience to collaborate creatively with fellow Bulldogs and mentors in the field.”