First events of IMC Connect! geared toward high school students

Published 3:45 pm Monday, March 11, 2024

By Alyssa Schnugg

The kickoff events for the fiercely anticipated IMC Connect! Conference 2024 are devised with high school students in mind. Set to unravel on March 25-27, the conference will serve as an enriching platform for students to get a glimpse into the dynamic world of integrated marketing communications.

An Enlightening Gathering

Hosted by the University of Mississippi School of Journalism and New Media, the IMC Connect! Conference disfranchises the gap between theoretical and practical aspects of marketing communications, promising a synergistic interaction between high profiled market leaders and the inquisitive young minds.

With noteworthy personalities from renowned brands such as Boeing, The Las Vegas Raiders, Carnival Cruise Line, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Toyota of Mississippi, and CVS offering their insights, the conference is certainly a golden opportunity for young students.

Professionals for Tomorrow – The Opening Event

The event commences at 8:30 a.m., presenting “Developing the Communicator in You,” by Tiffannie L. Hedin of Toyota Mississippi. Hedin’s discussion segment focuses on the essence of communication skills, its ardent importance in our lives, and its potential to shape our career trajectories. As a special treat, Chick-fil-A breakfast will be served for all attendees.

Connect with the Community

The exciting Community Connect! event, starting at 11 a.m., is another attraction of the day. It is a unique service project that invites high school students to create everlasting social media video content in support of the United Way of Oxford-Lafayette County.

The project aims to cater to diverse issues such as early childhood education and literacy, mental health, food insecurity, and housing insecurity. Teams of students will create Instagram videos around these topics on campus.

Following the creation and editing of the content, students will share their videos on Instagram, giving them a chance to win exciting prizes for the best three videos.

To satiate the creative minds, free pizza is also on the menu at the Grove after the event. However, students are reminded to attend a briefing on the event’s instructions from 10:20 a.m.-11:00 a.m. in Overby Center Room 249 to ensure smooth operations.

About The Annual Conference

The mind behind this informative event is Dr. Amanda Bradshaw, an assistant professor of Integrated Marketing Communications. Her vision is to provide a platform that provides a learning curve for students, giving them a taste of real-world scenarios and challenges in the field of integrated marketing communication.

For more information regarding the IMC Connect! Conference 2024, visit the official website to find out more about the activities lined up during the event.