The AMA Foundation awards collegiate scholarships to student marketers who are making an impact on campus and in their community. In 2018, we added a Students Helping Students award that was funded by student giving across the country. Here’s a look at our 2018 winners.
AMAF Social Impact Scholarship Winners
The AMA’s Social Impact Scholarship is awarded to AMA student members who have made a positive impact in their local, regional or larger community.
Noah Rostcheck, Florida International University
Tell us a bit about the work you did to receive the scholarship. What impact did it have on your friends, your campus or the community?
The work I did to receive the social impact scholarship focused on elevating orphaned Bolivian youth through an organization I helped to create called Orphan2Uni (O2U). The work included web design, logo development, content creation for the website, launching a fundraising platform (GoFundMe) and centralizing the mission and vision of the organization. I led O2U’s first-ever mission trip to Santa Cruz, Bolivia, where I worked with a group of students to improve the living conditions of orphans living at Casa Maria Jacinta.
How has your scholarship affected you in your personal and professional life?
This scholarship has provided me with enough financial support to cover an entire semester of my tuition. I am more capable than ever of focusing on my education, my career, and continuing my social impact work. I am grateful for the support I have received through this scholarship which has enabled me to focus on developing myself while also giving back to others.
Catherine Lemus, Western Michigan University
How do you think that marketing can be used for good?
I think that marketing can be used for good when it is used to influence people to make a positive difference in the world. I love sharing stories in marketing and educating the community. I hope that in the future, more marketing can be used to educate people and empower them to do good work.
What advice would you give to other college students who are looking to make a positive impact in their community?
You can ALWAYS find a way to leave a positive mark in the community! Find groups where you can put your skills into action and find friends who also want to make the world a better place. College is the best place to start serving your community because there are groups for people with all kinds of interests!
Jenna Liu, University of Pennsylvania
How has your scholarship affected you in your personal and professional life?
The scholarship is incredibly rewarding in the sense that it provides support for social impact work within the field of marketing, which I believe is incredibly important. More marketing students and young professionals should consider the kind of positive social impact they can create with their skills. This scholarship is further encouragement to continue the social impact work I do now and pursue it in the future.
How do you think that marketing can be used for good?
In the world of social impact, I think that marketing provides a tool to connect with others and convey a story, which is so important when it comes to sparking change. Marketing provides a more analytical and data-driven perspective that is oftentimes useful in regard to actually creating tangible impact.
AMAF Diversity Leadership Scholarship Winners
Presented to AMA student leaders who serve others, inspire greatness and achieve remarkable things through empowerment and action. Students must be a member of one of the following underrepresented groups: African-American, Native American and/or Hispanic-American.
Gabriel Gonzalez, University of Pennsylvania
How has your scholarship affected you in your personal and professional life?
This scholarship came at an extremely opportune time in my life. With a political crisis in my hometown and health issues within my family, my financial support was shaken. This scholarship has helped me get back on my feet and experience college to the fullest as I approach my final year.
What has it meant for you to be part of the AMA?
Penn’s AMA chapter is like a second family to me. As a student who grew up abroad, I experienced a lot of culture shock upon my arrival at Penn, but the AMA took me in as one of their own. I formed friendships for a lifetime and got to know people from all walks of life. On top of that, I fostered my interest in marketing and met peers who’ve taught me just as much as I have learned in the classroom. The AMA has been an integral part of my college experience and I would not change it for anything.
Perry Cooper, Aurora University
How has your scholarship affected you in your personal and professional life?
With the cost of school rising, getting help is always an amazing and calming part. Receiving this scholarship has brought me peace of mind for when I begin to tackle my student loans. The scholarship is also a great way to show my leadership skills in my professional life.
What advice would you give to other college students who are looking to make a positive impact in their community?
First, you have to get involved with anything and everything you can think of. When you’re in the field meeting people and connecting your face to your cause, that’s when people can look at the work you want to do. Figuring out the match between what you love to do and the best way to get yourself out there is very important. This is what I did, and it took a long time to learn everything and everyone and really get stuff moving. It pays off so well in the long-term.
Isabel Diaz, Drake University
Tell us a bit about the work you did to receive the scholarship. What impact did it have on your friends, your campus or the community?
I have always wanted to be seen as a leader on my campus, especially towards individuals of color. By applying myself in the many organizations I am a part of and taking on executive positions, I was not only able to strengthen my skills, but also be someone underclassman students of color could look up to. I also strive to be a strong leader by being open and communicative to underclassman who need advice or help on any area of college life.
How has your scholarship affected you in your personal and professional life?
My family has recently gone through some financial hardship, so this scholarship has helped tremendously on paying some of my college tuition off. While attending college, I wanted to focus on my studies, friendships and future goals. However, tuition and finances are a large area many students stress over. AMA was able to help my family and I by providing me with this scholarship and lessening the financial burden. I am now able to focus more on my academics, achievements and post graduate goals.