Charlee Ottersberg receives prestigious AAF scholarship

2014 Apr 22

Marietta College junior Charlee Ottersberg of Arvada, CO, recently received two prestigious scholarships through her involvement with the campus' American Advertising Federation (AAF) Club.

Ottersberg, who currently serves as secretary of the AAF Club, was one of 16 students from across the United States to be selected as a 2014 Stickell Intern.

The Vance and Betty Lee Stickell Internship Program, sponsored by the American Advertising Federation, matches students interested in advertising careers with summer internship positions throughout the United States. Stickell interns are each paid a $4,000 salary and provided with an additional $1,500 stipend to cover living expenses.

Ottersberg was matched with the creative services department of the San Antonio Express-News in San Antonio, Texas, where she will learn the various aspects of creative advertising for a media organization. She will start the internship on May 19.

"I think it will be cool to work for a bigger organization," Ottersberg said. "All of the internships I've had so far have been for much smaller organizations of seven to 10 people. I'm also looking forward to meeting more people in AAF."

Lori Smith, faculty adviser to Marietta College's AAF Club, was impressed by Ottersberg's selection for this opportunity.

"Forty-eight students from around the country were nominated as one of the best, most deserving individuals from their AAF student chapters," Smith said. "Therefore, to be selected to receive one of these 16 positions is extremely impressive."

Ottersberg was also recently awarded the $2,000 HFA Scholarship through the AFF/Cleveland chapter, the parent chapter for Marietta's AAF club. This scholarship was funded by HFA, a marketing and advertising agency based in Akron, Ohio. The application process for the award required interested students to create posters that convinced the judges as to why they were qualified for the award. A panel of marketing and communications professionals from the Cleveland area judged entries.

"Winning the scholarship with HFA is truly an honor," Ottersberg said. "The application process was a lot of fun, and it allowed me to think critically and apply my ideas in a creative manner."

Smith said that Ottersberg won the award "by branding herself as an extremely motivated and creative individual who always goes beyond what is required."

Ottersberg has been an active member of Marietta's AAF club for one year and helped to organize and craft Marietta College's entry for the AAF's National Student Advertising Competition. Next year, she will be in charge of the team's entry.

Ottersberg maintains that students interested in pre-professional organizations need to explore every opportunity available to them.

"What you put into it is what you get out of it," Ottersberg said. "Being in organizations like AAF will help you find opportunities, but they're not going to just fall into your lap. You have to do your own searching."