Students at CMU are finding new ways to expand their experiences beyond campus through club involvement. One organization in particular is creating opportunities that reach far beyond western Colorado.
At Colorado Mesa University, the CMU Marketing Club has created numerous opportunities for its members to be recognized and make connections on an international level. It is also the only American Marketing Association (AMA) chapter on the Western Slope of Colorado.
This year, students got the chance to attend the AMA International Collegiate Conference held in Chicago, Illinois. The conference allowed attendees to learn more about professional development, hear from keynote speakers and compete in marketing-based events and competitions. Students participated in competitions to earn various prizes such as additional funding for their chapter, individual scholarships and job offers.
The CMU Marketing Club has not always been able to attend the conference due to expenses. However, this year, the club was able to fundraise and take on professional projects in the community to help pave its way to Chicago.
“We haven’t gone in a really long time,” said Marketing Club President Braelyn Wentworth. “So, it was a really great accomplishment that we were able to go.”
As for fundraising, the chapter put on a weeklong event called Marketing Week that allowed students to get involved with the Marketing Club through a plethora of events that all shared one common goal: to advertise themselves. This provided greater attendance numbers and awareness for the Marketing Club’s presence on campus.
There were multiple competitions that took place this year at the AMA International Collegiate Conference. Each chapter member who attended the conference participated in the Perfect Pitch competition, where they had to quickly pitch an idea after hearing the prompt only a few minutes before. All the events allowed students to introduce themselves and network with industry professionals.
The Marketing Club is very involved with the community and enjoys doing freelance work for local businesses to boost their strategic marketing expertise. Not only does this help a local business, it also gives chapter members funding for future events and valuable experience that can be applied to the workforce.
“Clubs are nice because you get to meet more people; you get to be a part of a community,” freshman member Zack Lewis said. “You are networking with people; you are able to make connections that will last for your life and could be the real reason that you get a job.”
The Marketing Club has worked with numerous companies and individuals looking to promote themselves through the lens of young business professionals. Open to more freelance work, the club collaborates, solves problems and works diligently on the projects presented to them with their professional advisor.
CMU provides numerous opportunities for students to get involved no matter their field of study, and clubs and organizations are just one major example. These opportunities help students gain recognition, build connections and prepare for careers after graduation. For more information, please visit Student Life's Clubs and Organizations website.