More than just a line on a resume Senior Ryan Stump talks with a fellow American Marketing Association member during an AMA reception. Stump, recipient of the Junior Marketing Major Award, created the AMA webpage and serves as webmaster of the organization. Photo by Ashlee Johnson. AMA prepares students for professional marketing careers Coming out ofa rebuilding year, Harding's chapter of the American Marketing Association emerged in 2000 as one ofthe most active organizations on campus. The rejuvenated AMA provided ample opportunity for students of various majors to get involved. Sponsor Lori Sloan faced the task of rebuilding Harding's dormant AMA chapter after .taking over in 1999. The organization was inactive for a year following the retirement of Charles Walker, sponsor of AMA for 28 consecutive years. Walker was recently honored for his extraordinary service to AMA through the establishment of Harding's fIrst AMA scholarship. The recipient must be a marketing major, at least a junior by credit hours and actively involved in AMA. Senior Paula Durham was named the fIrst recipient of the scholarship. During the 2000-2001 school year, AMA students organized various events such as a fashion show, a gold tournament, service projects and a shadowing program. Sloan said the program that is the most benefIcial to marketing majors is one that provides shadowing opportunities. This enables members to plug in with business professionals in the community for mentoring opportunities. The grand fInale of AMA was the national convention held in New Orleans. Representatives from Harding's chapter attended the convention in April. Members set up a booth highlighting the year's activities and accomplishments, complete with eye-catching visuals, to be evaluated by judges. Sloan said Harding's chapter always does well in the competition. "AMA is run like a business," Sloan said. "This is a professional organization; members follow rules of order, setting agendas and establishing committees." Students are pleased with the new life Sloan has breathed into AMA on Harding's campus. "It's amazing what she's done with a club that was dormant for so long," junior Brent Smith said. According to Sloan, it's been a rewarding job. "It's so exciting to see such a diversegroup ofmajors come together to learn about marketing and use their skills to accomplish such great things." - Hannah Rhodes ~A ]=d=A~/ ~ S ~C E~C~ __________ ~~ Organizations ~
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NTc5NA==