HC: Where is your hometown?
Jolene: Omaha
HC: What grade are you?
J: Junior
HC: What is your major? Why?
J: Advertising/Public Relations with a minor in Community and Regional Planning. I love everything about cities, both big and small. I chose to study advertising/pr because as cities begin to get larger, it will be imperative for them to market themselves accordingly.
HC: Why did you choose to come to UNL?
J: UNL has an excellent Journalism college and when I was looking around at colleges, UNL offered the best opportunities for me to pursue all of my passions.
HC: What are you involved with here on campus?
J: I am involved with my sorority -Chi Omega, and the National Student Advertising Competition team.
HC: How did you hear about the National Advertisement Student Competition?
J: I heard about the team through the CoJMC. The college promoted it a lot so I knew it was something I wanted to do to further develop skills in the advertising area.
HC: Was it a rough process getting into?
J: There’s an application that requires a résumé, cover letter and portfolio, then there is an interview process.
HC: What all does it entail once accepted?
J: It entails lots of late nights, creative thinking and the ability to stay organized in a hectic and fast-paced environment.
HC: Can you tell me a little about it?
J: Each year, there is a corporate sponsor who provides a case study, to NSAC teams across the nation, detailing their current advertising situation. This year’s sponsor is Mary Kay Cosmetics. After a team receives the case study it is up to them to research the products, the brand and the target audience. From there the team comes up with an integrated communications campaign for the client. Then finally, the teams pitch their campaigns regionally. If you win your region then you go on to Nationals. This year’s regional competition for us is in Kansas City, nationals are held in Boca Raton, Florida.
HC: What challenges does it bring?
J: Every week brings a new challenge for the team. At first it was finding an idea and then learning how to work together as a team. Now the challenge is getting everything in on time!
HC: How has it impacted you and your college career?
J: NSAC has brought me real life advertising experience. There’s a huge difference from pretending to makes ads in class and actually making ads for a real client. NSAC brings more pressure than your everyday assignments.
HC: Are you now always apart of NSAC? Or do you apply each year?
J: You have to apply every spring semester.
HC: How does it apply to you and your future career plans?
J: It has given me experience on how to work with others and on what it takes to develop a fully integrated campaign.
HC: How much apart of your life is it?
J: It takes up my Wednesdays and most of my weekends. Class is held on Wednesdays but all work that is produced is done in team meetings outside of the class period.
HC: What is the best part about advertising for you?
J: I love that advertising integrates culture with new ideas. Without advertising people wouldn’t know what they wanted.
HC: How has advertising become your passion?
J: I’m passionate about great ideas that foster communities. Advertising helps communicate big ideas to communities as a whole, which I love.
HC: What is your dream job?
J: I would love to be an account executive and work on a campaign that deals with branding cities.
HC: What actions are you taking now in order to make this happen?
J: I am an intern at the Lincoln Chamber of Commerce. I get to work on everything Lincoln related, including Lincoln events and the brand as a whole.
HC: Who is one person that has been your inspiration all the way through?
J: My boss Jenny Sundberg practically has my dream job. She helps people fall in love with Lincoln. She is such a visionary and has taught me what it takes to foster a community.
HC: What characteristics of this person do you wish to exemplify most?
J: I hope one day I can be as passionate and involved with the community as she is.
HC: How would you describe yourself in three words?
J: Restless, motivated, visionary.