Date: May 06, 2008

Zarb Students Win Local Division of National Advertising Contest

Compete for national title in Georgia June 8-9

Hofstra University, Hempstead, NY – Students from Hofstra University's Zarb School of Business won the District 2A American Advertising Federation competition in New York City last weekend over 10 other colleges, including Penn State, Ithaca College and Georgetown University.

The team, under the advisement of Chuck McMellon, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Marketing and International Business, won first place after preparing an advertising plan and campaign for AOL's instant messaging and social network platforms. The students will go on to the national competition in Atlanta, Georgia June 8-9.

The students who presented the plan are Allison Calabrese, Jesse G. Freedman, James A. Gilligan, Ryan M. Mitchell and John V. Terrana. The other team members are Theresa M. Ayala, De Anna R. Caiati, Hazel De La Rosa, Anthony Ho, Nkechi Hooper, Cathy L. Jimenez, Zack Miller, Morgan Rosenblum, Jonathan Whitford, and Michael K. Williams. Jonathan Whitford said the team was "very honored to have won the district competition. This project has been in progress since October 2007 and we are extremely excited to represent Hofstra at the national competition in June."

"We are all very proud of the students who worked hard to develop and present this advertising plan," Dr. McMellon said. “Their win affirms the high quality of both the programs offered at the Zarb School and of the students that it attracts."

AAF's National Student Advertising Competition NSAC: College World Series of Advertising is the premier college advertising competition. It provides more than 3,000 college students with "real-world" experience by requiring a strategic advertising/marketing/media campaign for a corporate sponsor. Fifteen schools from around the United States that have won their divisional competitions will present their campaigns to a panel of industry executives at the American Advertising Conference.

The Frank G. Zarb School of Business prepares students for rewarding careers and helps them to become responsible business leaders by stressing the importance of life-long education, ethics in business, an awareness of global issues and concern for the environment. The Zarb School of Business offers small classes taught by experienced faculty and utilizes cutting edge technology such as the Martin B. Greenberg Trading Room. With a network of successful alumni and established business connections in nearby New York City, the Zarb School provides a wide variety of internships that allow students to gain valuable career experience.

Hofstra University is a dynamic private institution where students can choose from about 145 undergraduate and 155 graduate programs in liberal arts and sciences, business, communication, education and allied human services, and honors studies, as well as a School of Law. With a student-faculty ratio of 14-to-1, our professors teach small classes averaging 22 students that emphasize interaction, critical thinking and analysis. Hofstra offers a faculty whose highest priority is teaching excellence, cutting edge technology, extensive library resources, internships and special educational programs that appeal to their interests and abilities.  The Hofstra community is driven, dynamic and energetic, helping students find and focus their strengths to prepare them for a successful future.