By ALIA CONLEY
J Alumni News staff
Elise Hernandez
When Elise Hernandez introduced herself onstage at dinner reception in New York City for promising minority advertising students, she uttered a catch phrase that any student from Nebraska would say.
Go Big Red!
To her surprise, although only two others from University of Nebraska–Lincoln had accompanied her, she heard some hoops and hollers from tables around the room.
That Husker connection might have helped Hernandez, a senior advertising major, network with big names earlier during a recruiter session with 38 advertising agencies.
Hernandez was among only 50 students named to American Advertising Federation’s (AAF) Most Promising Minority Student list. She visited the New York Athletic Club Feb. 2–4 to talk to potential employers and learn more about the advertising industry.
A chance to meet and connect
“The whole opportunity was great because you get to do these interviews all day long and meet with people who you’d never in a million years get to talk to,” Hernandez said.
Joan Wortmann
Senior advertising major Joan Wortmann was named to AAF’s Honor Roll and also was invited to attend the convention in New York and participate in the different events.
On the second day of the conference, the students had three hours to meet with the 38 recruiters representing in-house agencies from companies such as JCPenney, General Mills and the ABC Television Network and global advertising groups such as Digitas, Leo Burnett and Momentum.
First impressions matter
“It was important that you try to meet with as many people as you could because if you made a good first impression, they’d invite you back for an interview in the afternoon,” Hernandez said.
Hernandez didn’t get to talk to every agency in the morning but had three interviews in the afternoon with McCann Erikson advertising agency, Turner Broadcasting System (TBS) and Interpublic Group, an advertising and marketing agency.
Wortmann talked to Leo-Burnett and JCPenney and, after the convention, went to Dallas for a second interview with JCPenney.
Her passion for advertising started as a freshman when she was in the National Student Advertising Competition. She decided to graduate a year early and is excited to start her career.
“[NSAC] gave me a view of what advertising is. It was a real-life experience,” Wortmann said. “I love advertising. I can’t wait to do it full time.”
More students should apply for the award
Both students said other UNL students should apply for the award because of the invaluable experience at the New York conference. Advertising professor Amy Struthers said she wished more students would have applied — she sent an e-mail to all students, inviting them to apply. Wortmann and Hernandez were the only students from UNL who turned in applications.
“We have outstanding students here, and in the future my goal is for each faculty member to nominate a student of color for this award so we get as much visibility and as much opportunity for our students as possible,” Struthers said.
Hernandez, Wortmann were active and involved
Wortmann has been active as an officer in Advertising Club with Struthers, and this spring both students were in Struthers’ capstone advertising campaigns course.
“They’ve both been very strong in our program but in very different ways,” Struthers said. “Joan’s been involved in college activities, and Elise has been very focused on internships in the professional community.”
Hernandez didn’t find a job at the Most Promising Minority Student convention, but she’s still talking with agencies for an internship. And her experience in New York wasn’t just about work; she also got to go to a Broadway musical and to industry parties with her peers.
She said she networked with both potential employers and potential coworkers.
“I met a lot of very talented people, and you see the competition, which is a good boost of confidence because you realize that you’re doing the right things.”
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