American Advertising Federation awards a Stickell national internship to marketing major Chioke McRae, a first for Wayne State
Senior marketing major Chioke McRae has already gained quite a head start into his advertising career, with internship experiences at companies like Walt Disney, BBDO and Campbell-Ewald. Now that he has secured a spot in a competitive national internship program, he will pack his bags for Chicago and add another prominent company to his resume—Leo Burnett.
McRae was recently selected for the 2010 Vance L. Stickell Memorial Internship Program. This American Advertising Federation (AAF) program offers competitive internships to 20 of the nation’s most outstanding advertising students. McRae was one of 48 AAF students nominated nationwide and is the first Wayne State University student to earn this prestigious internship.
“It’s an honor and blessing to be considered one of the top 20 American Advertising Federation students in the country,” said McRae. “I’m excited for the challenge of competing outside of my comfort zone, making new friends and learning more about advertising while living in such a vibrant city for the summer.”
The AAF partners with some of the most well-known advertising and media agencies in the world so that Stickell interns gain invaluable preparation for their advertising careers. The Chicago office of Leo Burnett, a full-service, multi-national advertising and marketing firm, will host McRae as their 2010 summer intern.
“I will be an account management intern, so I anticipate assisting account leaders in managing some of their brands,” says McRae. “Whatever they want me to do I will be excited to do.”
McRae says that he is eager to work on packaged goods at Leo Burnett and believes that this will increase his value for future employers. Leo Burnett clients include Visa, McDonald’s, Nintendo and Coca-Cola.
Dr. Richard Beltramini, professor of marketing and faculty adviser to Wayne State’s AAF chapter, nominated McRae for the program. Nominations can only be made by AAF advisers, who may recommend only one student. Selections are made based on industry aptitude, GPA, recommendation, leadership experience, an essay and ad redesign.
“Chioke McRae is a natural advertising professional,” Beltramini said. “He shows the rest of the students what can be accomplished with extra effort, and I’m so very proud of him being the first Wayne State student awarded a Stickell internship.”
McRae joined Wayne State’s AAF Chapter in 2007 and engaged in many leadership roles during his membership, including his current role as president of the chapter. He has coordinated tours and meetings with advertising agencies and digital technology companies, and has played a leading role in the school’s participation in the AAF’s National Student Advertising Competition (NSAC). He is also an original student member of the business school’s student-run marketing communications agency, what box. The student agency works with business start-ups at WSU’s TechTown. Beltramini said that McRae now does a great job leading the nine-person what box staff, which supports an array of companies.
“Since meeting Dr. Beltramini in 2007, I knew I would have an opportunity to accomplish great things with Wayne State AAF if I worked hard,” McRae said. “To see the fruition that my hard work has resulted in is just awesome.”
