UA Senior Named One of Nation’s Top 50 Minority Students in Advertising

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — University of Alabama senior Adrienne Gates has been named one of the American Advertising Federation’s 50 Most Promising Minority Students for 2013-14.

Gates, an advertising major from Robertsdale, said she became interested in applying because of the opportunities it would present her, as well as a chance to represent her Korean heritage.

“We had to write a tagline for ourselves, which was kind of cool, and we’ll present those at the awards luncheon,” Gates said. “Mine is: ‘Nimble thinker. Bold thoughts. Unstoppable.’ I thought that was the coolest part of the application process, because advertising is all about branding yourself, and the tagline is the most important part. It’s really hard to write something about yourself without being too braggy and too ostentatious. I think my tagline is pretty representative of me.”

As an AAF outstanding minority student, Gates will attend a luncheon where she will have the opportunity to meet recruiters from some of the nation’s largest advertising agencies.

“I’ve always been interested in doing something creative,” Gates said. “I’ve always loved to paint, but there’s not a lot of money in painting. I was trying to find something I could actually make a living and be happy with. In advertising, I love that each day brings a new challenge or project. I want to work on the creative side of it, and that almost guarantees I will be doing something different every day.”

Susy Daria, an instructor in the department of advertising and public relations, encouraged Gates to apply for the honor.

“Our industry desperately needs more diversity,” Daria said. “The best work springs from instances in which people of differing cultures and lifestyles have a place at the table when important decisions are being made. The best way to promote inclusion and tolerance in the industry is to give people with various backgrounds chances to experience it from within. That’s why I make it a point to seek outstanding APR students who happen to identify as multicultural individuals and encourage them to apply for this opportunity. I am proud of Adrienne for being selected and can’t wait for her to experience what I know to be a very powerful event. She will represent UA very well.”

Gates said after graduation in May she hopes to move to New York City and become an art director for an advertising agency.