On February 10, the American Advertising Federation (AAF) hosted fifty undergraduate students in New York City as part of the Most Promising Multicultural Student (MPMS) program. Among the fifty undergraduate seniors chosen for this honor, Nicole Méndez and Maria Vasquez of Florida State University’s School of Communication were selected.
Nicole Méndez is an Advertising and Studio Art major with an expected graduation date of Spring 2020. “I arrived in NYC still bewildered that I was even there and was actually selected to be part of the program,” says Nicole. “But by the end of the week, with a combination of our activities and the people we interacted with, I gained this new-found confidence that I absolutely deserved to be there.”
Maria Vasquez graduated in Fall 2019 with a bachelor’s degree in Advertising, and left MPMS feeling sheer excitement for her future. “I left feeling confident in my abilities and ready to take on the industry. My heart is full and I can’t wait to see where we all end up next,” Maria remarks.
This program has connected the advertising industry with the nation’s top multicultural students for over 20 years now. Since its first class in 1997, over 800 students have participated in this premier event attributing most of their post-grad success to MPMS. This event provides opportunities for companies to recruit new talent and further diversify the industry to better reflect today’s society. The program not only validates students but enhances their knowledge and understanding of the industry by offering networking, professional development and industry immersion opportunities with professionals from top advertisers, media companies and advertising agencies.
This year’s event lasted four days, and even featured a billboard in Times Square dedicated to the Most Promising class. “Never would I have thought that my face would be on a billboard in Times Square,” adds Nicole. It was a dream come true for the young professionals to see their faces illuminated in the middle of the world’s media capital knowing all their hard work paid off for this moment. Aside from the glamour, students were able to flourish within their diverse backgrounds and come together as MPMS Class of 2020. “I made so many friends on this trip from different parts of the country,” says Maria. “We clicked instantly and I truly feel like my network has grown with genuine and caring individuals.” These students will forever have a family within the American Advertising Federation growing together beyond lengths they ever thought possible.