Since 2004….Advertising and Public Relations majors at Western Kentucky University have had a unique opportunity for real working experience.
In this week’s “View from the Hill”, Amy Bingham tells us how a student-run advertising agency is even making an impact internationally.

WKU’s Imagewest is the only full-service, revenue generating, student-run Advertising and PR agency in the nation.
Now entering it’s sixth year, Imagewest is continuing to provide students global experience.
 
“We are able to develop anything for the client ranging from logos to branding and working with media relations..it’s a wide range of work we get to do here.”

Brooke Winebrenner is one of four Imagewest summer interns wrapping up a project that took place in Spain.

The group developed a partnership with two universities, then worked closely with the city council of a Madrid suburb to bring all the elements together in a short amount of time.
 
“We spent four weeks developing digital marketing plans, web templates, poster designs and city guide booklet templates.”
 
“We developed a website, broke it down into five sections so it was easier to navigate.”

Also making the trip was Heather Garcia,  the agency’s manager since it opened.
 
“I think it’s really exceeded everybody’s dream and really any expectations that we had.”

Garcia says the global element takes the student experience to a whole other level.

“With the president stressing his international vision I had this idea gosh why not work internationally and give students a chance to work with international clients…a lot of professionals have never done that.”

More than 150 interns have participated in the ImageWest program with over half working in the industry since a few months after graduation.

As Brooke begins her job search in the real world, she knows her time at WKU’s Imagewest has her well-prepared.

“This international experience is a resume builder and it sets me apart from many other people.”

This was the second trip abroad for Imagewest…a group of interns travelled to Malaysia last year.

With this week’s View from the Hill, I’m Amy Bingham.