Grad Students Selected for Operation Jumpstart Scholarships

The 2009 Operation Jumpstart Scholarship was awarded to two Texas Advertising graduate students, Danielle R. Granderson and Chris Ramirez. The $10,000 scholarship is administered by the American Association of Advertising Agencies (AAAA) Foundation. It was created to assist students of diverse ethnic backgrounds at post-graduate portfolio schools with tuition and to increase diversity of art directors and copywriters in the advertising industry. Advertising Graduate Advisor, Dr. Gary Wilcox, saw the creative potential in Danielle and Chris right away and encouraged both students to apply for the scholarship.

Chris Ramirez graduated this past spring from The University of Texas-Pan America where he earned his degree in graphic design. He plans on pursuing the Texas Creative program for art direction. "I would like to do something different in the creative field, like create a new technique or do something that's never been done before," Chris said. After graduating, he would like to stay in the Austin area and eventually work in Europe.

Danielle R. Granderson graduated from The University of Texas in 2006 with a degree in Public Relations and has returned this semester to pursue a Master's degree in Advertising. Like Chris, she also plans focus the Texas Creative Sequence this semester and feels her talent lies in art direction. "The essays for the scholarship helped make my goals seem more real," Danielle said. She also mentioned after graduating she would like to work in fashion advertising at a global agency in one of the major advertising cities or in Europe.