GVSU student wins nat'l advertising award

Based on a required essay and 15-word tagline that promotes her talents, Grand Valley State University student Karina Moy was selected by the American Advertising Federation as a finalist in the Most Promising Minority Student program. Moy, an advertising and public relations major, was among the 50 students invited at AAF’s expense to New York City for the honors luncheon on February 6.

Included in the award was an intensive three-day program at the New York Athletic Club in Manhattan, filled with professional development seminars and recruiting sessions with some of the country’s leading advertising agencies, as well as the New York Times and ESPN.

“It was a wonderful experience and an opportunity to meet with some of the best advertising firms,” said Moy. “I was even offered a position in New York for after graduation in April, though I haven’t yet decided.”

Moy, who spoke only Cantonese at home with her parents Li Li and Do Kun in Troy, Mich., learned English as her second language when she started kindergarten. She struggled as an ESL student throughout most of her elementary school years, graduated from Troy Athens High School in 2004, and now maintains a 3.55 GPA. She also works on campus as a writing consultant helping other students and has studied French as her minor.

An AAF member since 2005, Moy is also vice president of the GVSU Ad Club and one of two account executives with the National Student Advertising Competition, guiding a team of 26 students to create an advertising campaign for global client AOL. She also works about 18 hours a week as a public relations intern at the Urban Institute for Contemporary Arts in Grand Rapids.

“Karina has a keen sense of inquiry fueled by an energetic enthusiasm for learning,” said professor Roy Winegar, who has had Moy as a student for three years, and nominated her for the honor. “She has a natural creativity and a niche for creative thinking.”