Members of Texas Advertising Group (TAG), an organization for undergraduate advertising majors, traveled to New York City over spring break this semester. Altogether, the group contained 24 students along with Professor Deborah Morrison and her son, Sam. While in New York, the group visited with various players in the advertising industry and participated in traditional tourist activities. Agencies visited included Ogilvy, Bartle Bogle Hegarty, Mediaedge:cia/The Digital Edge, JWT, TBWA\Chiat\Day, Spike DDB, and Mad Dogs & Englishmen. While visiting, several students were interviewed for summer positions, leaving one student with four separate internship opportunities for the summer. In addition to visiting advertising agencies the group visited Comedy Central and was able to hang out with several Texas Exes living in New York at a midtown restaurant. Stephanie Peterson, president of TAG, felt that the trip was an "incredible opportunity for all those who participated."
Although some agency contacts were made through student members of TAG, most of the contacts and office visits were set up through Professor Morrison. Peterson commented that Professor Morrison's assistance throughout the planning process as well as during the actual visit confirmed her to be "the definition of a great educational mentor to all those who know her." Sadly, this semester's trip was the last New York trip that Professor Morrison will be participating in, as she will be leaving the university at the conclusion of this semester. TAG, and the entire Texas Advertising department will be greatly saddened by the loss of such an influential teacher, friend, and mentor.
Members of TAG have participated in similar trips to New York City during spring break of every year since the early 1980s. TAG is the university's chapter of the American Advertising Federation that brings together advertising undergraduate majors and agency players during bi-monthly meetings, periodically visits with local advertising agencies, as well as participating in monthly organization socials around town. To learn more about TAG, visit: http://advertising.utexas.edu/tag.
4/22/2005