College is not often seen as being the ‘real world,’ but it is in many ways. At Winthrop University, some organizations have chapters on campus that can help students get started in the professional world.
One of these on-campus organizations is the American Marketing Association. Their purpose is to provide students with the skills needed to thrive in the always evolving world of business.
Luana Hughan is a sophomore at Winthrop who serves as the treasurer of the Winthrop American Marketing Association, or WAMA. Hughan is responsible for the finances of WAMA, which includes setting a budget for events/meetings and looking after the profits made by fundraisers. Hughan said the ability to “interact with marketing executives in the area and Winthrop faculty” is what makes WAMA special. Hughan said the opportunity to “meet people that have the same goal” makes WAMA a great organization for business and marketing students.
WAMA has regular meetings which consist of music, food, drinks, games and brainstorming ideas about what they could do next. Going forward, one of their main focuses is striving towards having relevant speakers at each meeting whenever possible. Additionally, the group focuses on working with and building relationships with local businesses.
Maddie Ashwell is the social media coordinator for WAMA and a senior at Winthrop. Ashwell explained that the organization is centered around Marketing but welcomes students of any major.
“We have people who are anywhere, from finance to political science,” Ashwell said.
Ashwell said her favorite WAMA event was held last semester and centered around the networking website LinkedIn. The event offered free headshots to members of WAMA for their LinkedIn profiles while the speaker at the event helped students know what was important for a good profile.
WAMA Vice President Airyauna Walker is a junior at Winthrop. Walker credited the organization’s importance to the ambition of its members.
“We have a group that truly believes not only in the potential of the [organization], but in themselves,” Walker said.
WAMA President Loren Allison is a junior at Winthrop. Allison said she believes that WAMA being the only marketing organization on campus sets it apart and makes it important to the students at Winthrop.
“We try to bring in marketing professionals to speak every other month to educate our chapter members more on what is going on in the marketing community around us,” Allison said
When Allison became president, all of the groups previous members had graduated. In the beginning of Allison’s presidency, the organization started again from the ground up with only four members, all of whom are now on the executive board.
“Our organization has very unique and interesting members who are devoted not only to their education but the organization as well,” Allison said.
Photo provided by Loren Allison
