UA Students Named to Advertising Team

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — The University of Alabama recently announced the names of 13 students who will spend the next eight months preparing to pitch an advertising campaign to the world’s biggest brand: Coca-Cola Classic.

The students are part of UA’s 2006-2007 Advertising Team, and their goal is to create a fully integrated marketing communications plan for Coca-Cola that will win the national competition sponsored by the American Advertising Federation.

Each year, 10-15 students in the UA College of Communication and Information Sciences are selected from a large pool of applicants to compete against the more than 150 colleges nationwide that enter the AAF’s competition. Alabama’s Ad Team won the national championship in 2000, which was sponsored by The New York Times.

The members of the 2006-2007 UA Ad Team are:

Brittany Armistead of Grove Hill

Adrienne Fowler of Hazel Green

Bryn Gardner of Lynchburg, Va.

Travis Gibbs of Toney

Christina Graham of Jackson Tenn.

Shelly Hiatt of Birmingham

Jennifer Kitt of Midland, Mich.

Jessica Kronberg of Cordova, Tenn.

Tiffany Mitchell of Gardendale

Travis Parker of Huntsville

Brandi Peterson of Cameron, N.C.

Tyler Sanderson of Huntsville

Rebecca Sockwell of Homewood

The first challenge is to win the district competition. Alabama is part of the 7th district, made up of several colleges within the Southeastern Conference. The team feels an added pressure to succeed in the district competition this year, as the event will be held in Tuscaloosa for the first time ever.

Michael Little, UA instructor and faculty adviser to the team, said he is thrilled about the students’ potential.

“These students have proven themselves to be the best and brightest in their specialty. This is a national championship group.

“This is the largest client in Ad Team history. I can’t think of a better experience for the students than to be able to pitch their ideas to this company,” Little said.

For more information on the UA Ad Team, contact Little at little@apr.ua.edu.