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<\/a>For the next two months, these five groups will be duking it out over a span of four events, vying for the coveted top spot. Each group was given two and a half weeks to prepare a booth for the first trade show, along with other handouts and information for a professional client. This year\u2019s client is the Director of Communication at the Mall of America, Dan Jasper.<\/p>\n
The students have to sign confidentiality forms and intellectual property forms in order to take the class. While the winning campaign isn\u2019t used by the client, the winning group does receive some perks.<\/p>\n
“Last year a client gave the mass communications department a donation, and it was used for [an end-of-the-year] banquet,” professor Tanya Ryan said.<\/p>\n
She added that one time, “Best Buy gave everyone a gold membership.”<\/p>\n
Professor Ryan said there is little teaching involved, other than feedback on how a group is doing after each event. The feedback and consequent rankings makes the groups strive to be better by the culmination of the class.<\/p>\n
“You can’t ask your boss questions – they expect you to know what to do,\u201d Ryan said. \u201cThe class is to empower students to make their own decisions, and teach them to become more confident in their knowledge and skills.”<\/p>\n
Luckily for the group Avantive, advertising major Elizabeth Clark was able to\u00a0offer some advice from her past experiences.<\/p>\n
“I’ve done trade shows before at Mayo Center similar to this one for a gym [business],” Clark said.<\/p>\n
That said, nothing could ever completely prepare students for what lay ahead \u2013 the trade show.<\/p>\n
Students were cast into the fire as friends and strangers alike crowded the space around the booths, rifling off fast-paced questions and bumping into each other to fill out contest forms for the groups\u2019 raffles.<\/p>\n
“No matter how prepared you are, there are things where you wish ‘oh, I wish I would’ve done that,'” Clark said. \u201cThat and you always tell yourself to speak in a more professional manner.\u201d<\/p>\n
Amongst the photo booths, caricaturist and mini golf competition that groups brought, students kept piling in. Some WSU students had no vested interests in the trade show, and came to support friends. For Nicole Cullinan, a photographer at Winona State, she came to help her friends and help herself.<\/p>\n
“One of my roommates is in Origin, and the other is in Avantive,\u201d Cullinan said.<\/p>\n
Like the groups, Cullinan was given a shortened deadline comparable to the real world.<\/p>\n
\u201cI shot for one team Wednesday, the other on Thursday, and then I sat down Friday night and did them all – I did it all in three days.”<\/p>\n
Cullinan\u2019s work was featured in slideshows playing at the booths during the trade show, and was also featured on social media.<\/p>\n
“It was a good experience for me to do more studio work, and take more headshots,” Cullinan added. “It gives me a sense of pride, to see my work printed at the trade show.”<\/p>\n
Hannah Ingebrand echoed Cullinan\u2019s thoughts.<\/p>\n
“This was the most real world thing I’ve ever done. I was really impressed by the whole thing. Everybody was on the same page,” Ingebrand said.<\/p>\n On the far end of the SAC closest to the stage, Phil Robin and Meraki waited patiently to talk to the client. Jasper\u2019s first question when he arrived \u2013 why the group wasn\u2019t dressed like the rest.<\/p>\n “When people asked us why we were wearing T-Shirts, we said we want our work to speak for us, yet remain approachable and comfortable,” Robin said coolly.<\/p>\n Jasper told Robin he was impressed with Meraki\u2019s overall message and mission statement.<\/p>\n “[Jasper] was more forward than anyone\u2026 nice guy, but a straight talker who was actually pretty intimidating,” Robin said. “Based on feedback from my teammates, we thought we’ll rank pretty well.”<\/p>\n An hour and a half later, it was all over. The groups were able to relax and consume some of their leftover cupcakes they had brought for the show.<\/p>\n Their first glimpse of the real world was just beginning.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Even in his campaigns logo crested T-Shirt, amidst the throng of trade show masses, Winona State University public relations student Phil Robin started to sweat. \u201cIt\u2019s nerve-racking, and I want to go to sleep,\u201d he said exhaustedly. For many public relations and advertising students in Winona State\u2019s senior campaigns class, Thursday\u2019s trade show in Kryszko\u2019s … Continue reading Campaigning for the Real World<\/span> <\/a>