The University of Houston-Downtown's (UHD) American Marketing Association (AMA) chapter is celebrating another big win! Twelve outstanding Gators from UHD recently competed at the American Advertising Federation-Houston Competition and Conference on November 1 and 2 and brought home three coveted awards. 

“Our success during the competition stemmed from their effective teamwork, innovative strategies, and the ability to adapt and respond to feedback,” said UHD’s MDCOB student and UHD AMA president, Nhu Le. “Additionally, the experience gained from working on real client projects allowed them to develop practical skills that are essential in marketing.”

UHD senior Marketing major, Mikaelly Barbosa claimed first place, while Cynthia Martinez and Katya Butron-Rangel, also a Marketing major, earned second and third place. “The top three lessons I learned were how to execute a marketing strategy in real life, collaborate effectively with others, and work efficiently under pressure and within tight deadlines,” said Martinez. “I believe our group's creativity, strategic placement of marketing efforts, and deep understanding of our client’s wants were key factors that secured us second place.”

Barbosa attributed the win to teamwork, positivity, and an openness to other’s ideas. "We let laughter and humor fill the room, my team and I never let things get too boring or serious,” said Barbosa. “We wanted to bring good feelings and positivity to our presentation; we wanted the judges to know we had fun creating our marketing campaign.”

For students who are eager to get involved with student organizations like AMA UHD, Martinez has this advice: “Just do it! You have to be the one to put yourself out there. If I hadn’t pushed myself to attend an AMA meeting, I wouldn’t have become a paid member, signed up for the competition, and won third place.”

If you see these Gators around campus, make sure to give them a big round of applause. Learn more about UHD’s student organizations by clicking the link here.