An advertising company has chosen UF to launch a program that allows competing advertising students to develop an ad campaign for the new Nissan Cube.
Zimmerman Advertising's Boot Camp program is designed to allow students to work directly with an advertising company and create an original ad they'll pitch to Zimmerman and Nissan executives at the end of the semester, said Mitch Hershey, executive vice president for the company's Nissan Division.
"Our goal is to be able to help students think and understand as a company and to give them real, actual experience on a project with a real launch that focuses on a Nissan product," Hershey said. "It also lets Nissan see how students think."
Although UF has traditionally offered strategy classes where students create campaigns for national companies, the Zimmerman Boot Camp is unique because it allows students to work directly with the client and executives in the advertising agency.
John C. Sutherland, professor and chair of the department of advertising, said this course would bring more real-world experience to the classroom and allow students to grow in a competitive mind-set.
Since most advertising companies have discontinued training agencies that recruit and educate undergraduates, many agencies are relying on campaign courses to find future employees.
Agents from Zimmerman Advertising will visit campus four times beginning Friday to lecture on planning, team building and creative development before the final presentation Dec. 4. The executives will pay their own airfare, and lectures are taught for free.
Students are also motivated to work with the agency because the group chosen by Nissan executives will gain recognition from a national company and possible exposure if the company uses their pitch.
The winning prize will be revealed toward the end of the semester.
"It's going to be a good experience working for a real-life company and agency," said Gustavo Noguera, a UF advertising senior.
"I'm gaining experience in a real-life situation, so it will help me with my resume for future job interviews."
