Imagewest marks a major milestone this semester with over 100 students interning at the only full-service student-run advertising and public relations agency in the nation.

Located on Western Kentucky University’s campus, Imagewest gives students the opportunity to gain technical and professional skills through interning. Since opening the doors in the spring of 2004, the agency experienced success not only with clientele, but participants as well. After three and a half years of operation, what is the program really about for those participants?

“I have real experience to put on my resume and strong portfolio work with client results,” said Summer Bolton, agency assistant and jr. art director. “It’s real-world work, and the experience we get from collaborating with professionals is priceless.”

In the dynamic environment, students apply what they’ve learned in the classroom to real-life clients. From the initial client meeting to the creative concept, the students get to handle all the details as if they were professionals. It’s fast paced with strict deadlines and requires tremendous creativity.

“Imagewest is thought of highly in the professional world,” said Pam Johnson, director of the School of Journalism and Broadcasting. “They built a strong reputation for the quality of work they produce and people are impressed with the students’ professionalism.”

With the experience at Imagewest, students gain a competitive edge in the workforce. Past interns, or ex-carnies, are working across the nation for top-notch companies, crediting Imagewest for jumpstarting their career. Ex-carnies are located in many cities including Boston, Mass., Atlanta, Ga., Nashville, Tenn., and

Berkley, Calif.

“Imagewest provided a transition from college classes to my career and helped me gain confidence,” said Ian Venskus, assistant interactive project manager for MNet in Boston, Mass. “It taught me to be more resourceful, a skill I use greatly at my job.”

Chris Carrico received a job as the art director of Sheehy & Associates in Louisville, KY right after graduation. The position required at least 5 years experience, but he received an interview based on his experience at

Imagewest. He impressed the company with the samples of work completed for real clients at Imagewest, and they hired him.

“Imagewest is a huge portfolio booster for the students because they are producing pieces for clients, which is not usually available in the classroom,” said Heather Garcia, agency manager. “Employers also want to see experience on a student’s resume.”

Interns have a job shadow opportunity, which allows them to visit a company of their choice. This provides important networking opportunities and a chance to see the culture of a particular company.

“Employers have hired our graduates from job shadow days,” said Garcia. “If they can get there, we can usually make it happen, so I encourage the students to dream big.”

In May 2007, two of the 10 graduates landed jobs prior to graduation, and three-fourths are currently working in the industry.

Imagewest continues to grow. Next summer they plan to take the agency abroad to give the students an opportunity to work with an international client.

Interns for Fall 2007 include:

Summer Bolton, agency assistant & jr. art director (Bowling Green, KY), Kristin Bond, account executive (Prospect, KY), Zach Brookes, account executive (Lexington, KY), Jason Lee, graphic designer

(Elizabethtown, KY), Nikki Robins, interactive/web designer (Haleyville, AL), Greg Roy, graphic designer (Hendersonville, TN), Chelsey Shelton, public relations coordinator (Glasgow, KY), Annie St. Clair, public relations coordinator (Prospect, KY), Emily Trabue, graphic designer (Glasgow, KY), Megan Venzin, account

executive (Frankfort, KY), and Sydney Wilson, graphic designer (Hendersonville, TN).

For further information, contact Heather Garcia at 270-745-8915, via e-mail at heather.garcia@wku.edu, or log on to www.wku.edu/Imagewest.

Imagewest is a student-run advertising and public relations agency that provides students with real-world agency experience. Imagewest allows students to further develop their skills and enhance their portfolio giving them a competitive edge as they enter the workforce. Imagewest operates year-round and offers a variety of services such as graphic and web design, media relations and publicity, event planning, large scale printing, consulting, strategic planning, conducting research including the use of an in-house focus group facility, and much more.

Imagewest began in January 2004 and is located on Western Kentucky University’s campus in the Mass Media and Technology Hall room 331. Any revenues that are generated will go directly back into the School of Journalism and Broadcasting to cover expenses such as equipment, scholarships and educational travel. It is part of WKU’s School of Journalism and Broadcasting’s Center for 21st Century Media Program of Distinction, which is approved and funded by Kentucky’s Council on Post-Secondary Education Regional Excellence Trust Fund.

For More Information: Contact Chelsey Shelton or Heather Garcia. 270.745.8915

imagewest@wku.edu