Maria Correa, a senior double majoring in advertising and management, has been awarded the 2010-2011 Advertising Women of New York Scholarship.

She is a member of Arrowhead Advertising, The Florida State University’s student advertising team. Last year, as a junior, she was a significant contributor to the research and promotions section of the campaign, which placed seventh in national competition. This year, she has been selected to be the captain of the team.

A native of Brazil who moved to the United States during her junior year of high school, Maria maintains a 3.9 GPA. But her academic accomplishments are only part of the story, said Barry Solomon, the Ad Team’s faculty advisor.

“She has a desire to see the world. She speaks four languages fluently (English, Spanish, Italian and Portuguese) and has lived in Italy, England, Brazil and the United States,” he said. “This summer, she put that desire to work by searching for and securing an internship with TBWA, an international advertising agency located in Johannesburg, South Africa.”

Described by peers and instructors as “determined and motivated,” Maria combined two goals in seeking her internship: working for a top international agency where she could attend at least one World Cup soccer match. She succeeded on both counts.

“I’ve always been interested in advertising and did everything I could to have the greatest learning experience possible,” she said. “I’ve had multiple internships in advertising agencies and also a market research firm.”

Maria is also an active member of the advertising club on campus and is the club’s liaison with the Greater Tallahassee Advertising Federation, the local chapter of the American Advertising Federation. In that capacity she is responsible for recruiting volunteers to participate in GTAF fundraising events, communicating information from the GTAF to the ad club, such as scholarship deadlines and keeping the GTAF aware of the ad club’s projects.

For more than 10 years, the AWNY Foundation has contributed $340,000 to charities and scholarships. In 2012, AWNY will celebrate “100 years of helping women to advance and excel” in advertising and related industries.

In addition to the award received by FSU’s Correa, scholarships were awarded to students at Ithaca College, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Appalachian State University, Rowan University, University of Illinois, Marist College and Virginia Commonwealth University. Awardees are selected primarily on the attendance at the annual Advertising Career Conference and participation in related programs.

The $2,750 award can be used for any education-related expenses.