AdPR students selected for Google/Performics-Grady AdWords Certificate Program

Congratulations to AdPR students selected for the Google/Performics AdWords program this year.

Image courtesy of http://blogs.position2.com/

The program is a partnership between Performics / Google and AdPR at UGA. The program is designed to train UGA AdPR students in Adwords to help enhance their digital media careers.

Google AdWords program is globally recognized as one of the most important qualifiers to enter the digital marketing industry.

Benefits of completing the certificate program include:

• Improved knowledge in keywords, bidded media systems and optimization strategies
• Globally-recognized stamp of approval certifying essential AdWords knowledge
• Showcase specialists knowledge through advanced exams covering search, display, reporting and analysis

The following students are assigned a mentor and will complete modules on a regular basis throughout the spring semester.

Alexandra Holzworth

Brian Alsobrook

Chandler Rumsey

Ellie Reed

Emily Hood

Matthew Pimenta

Page Kelley

Victor Miltiades

Samantha Meyer

Steven Coulombe
Jordan Simpson

Exam topics include Google advertising, display advertising, search advertising, and reporting and analysis.

View last year's program post here.

Grady students invited to apply for Google/Performics Scholars Program

AdPR seniors: Performics is partnering with Google to offer students in Grady College the opportunity to gain an edge in a digital media career by taking the Google AdWords certification training and exam. This program is designed to train students in AdWords to enhance their digital media careers. Students who pass the exam will attain Google AdWords certification and be allowed to include this accomplishment on their resume.

ADPR students graduating in 2014 are invited to apply and ten students will be chosen to participate in the second annual Google/Performics Scholars Program.

Chosen students will be assigned a mentor.  They willl complete modules on a regularly scheduled basis during January, February and March and will take the Fundamentals as well as 1 of the 2 Advanced exams

If you are interested, applications are due to Ms. Donna LeBlond in room 215 by Tuesday, Nov. 19.

Here is a link to the application form: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BzKwcY1_HTYHNFVQY3pGUkpNU00/edit?usp=sharing

For other questions, contact:

Dr. Jhih-Syuan (Elaine) Lin, Assistant Professor of Advertising, jhlin@uga.edu

Dr. Karen W. King, Professor of Advertising and Jim Kennedy Professor of New Media, kwking@uga.edu

Performics and Google to Offer AdWords Program for Grady Students

Grady College is pleased to announce that Performics, the performance marketing agency in Publicis, has teamed with Google to offer an opportunity to Grady students to get a head start on a digital media career by taking the Google Adwords Certification Program and Test. 

Dana Todd

This program was developed through the efforts of Grady alumna Dana Todd, SVP Marketing and Business Development at Performics in Chicago. UGA will be the first recipient of this official scholarship program, and 10 students will be chosen to become individually qualified in Google AdWords. Representatives of Performics will come visit Grady the week of January 21 to recruit in senior-level classes. Grady faculty Dr. Elaine Lin and Dr. Karen King will be working with Performics and Google to help set it up. 

Google's AdWords program is globally recognized as one of the most important qualifiers to enter the digital marketing industry. Knowledge in AdWords can be transferrable to almost any career in marketing, including ones involving optimization, keyword search and digital metrics. 

Benefits to completing this certificate program include: 

• Improved knowledge in keywords, bidded media systems and optimization strategies; 
• Globally-recognized stamp of approval certifying essential AdWords knowledge; 
• Showcase specialist knowledge through advanced exams covering search, display, reporting and analysis.

Applications to the program will be due January 31, 2013, and can be found here. Once chosen, students will be assigned a mentor and will complete modules on a regular basis during February and March. 

To gain qualification, students must pass both the Advertising Fundamentals exam and one advanced-level exam. Exam topics will include Google advertising, display advertising, search advertising, and reporting and analysis. Students will complete the modules by early April and take the exam, and Performics will cover the cost of taking the exam. Google/Performics will come to campus to award the certificates in late April. Students who pass the required exams to become Individually Qualified will receive a certificate verifying achievement. They'll also have an online Individual Profile page to share with interested parties.

Once qualified, individuals receive a Google-branded certificate and can add their Individually Qualified status to their CV to showcase their AdWords skills and knowledge. 

AdPR M.A. Alumni Spotlight: Phillip Fain

Phillip Fain

Phillip Fain, a 2011 M.A. graduate, is originally from Stone Mountain and Decatur, Georgia. In November, he will be relocating to the San Francisco Bay Area to work for Google.

What was your concentration and when did you graduate? Where did you do your undergraduate work, and what was your major? I obtained my Masters of Arts in Journalism and Mass Comm. with an advertising concentration. I received my Bachelor of Business Administration from Georgia State University.

What activities were you involved while in Grady/UGA? I was a proud member of Graduate and Professional Scholars (G.A.P.S.) and Black Male Leadership Society (B.M.L.S). However, I'd say my miscellaneous volunteering and mentoring opportunities were most the most memorable and rewarding. I've always placed more value in being involved with random projects regardless of affiliation as being more important than simply paying membership dues to multiple organizations to claim membership.

What are you doing now and how did you get there? What are your career plans? I graduated in December 2011 and I've been working at EricMower & Associates. I've gained a lot of great experience working on the GE account as an Assistant Account Executive. I recently accepted an offer to work for Google as part of their advertising services team starting in mid-November.

What part of your Grady experience (classes, professors, etc.) has been helpful in your career today? Grady is the reason I am where I am today. The faculty and staff at Grady genuinely cared about my growth and potential, and always went above and beyond to help me succeed. Very few people know that I originally thought I was going to have to join the military so I could afford to pay for grad school. I have the utmost respect and admiration for our troops, but that's not the life I dreamed of for myself. I wanted to work in the wonderful world of advertising. Fortunately, Mrs.Debbie Sickles encouraged me to obtain an assistantship opportunity working as a graduate/research assistant. Subsequently, Dr. Karen King and Dr. Elli Roushanzamir have written amazing letters of recommendation that have helped me get advertising positions in Manhattan, Atlanta and San Francisco.

What is your favorite Grady memory? My favorite memory was the Grad Caucus Tailgate we had before the 2011 UGA vs. Auburn game on the Grady lawn. Dr. Springston playing the guitar, Dr. Reichert playing baseball with his kids, Mrs. Debbie's signature dishes on the picnic table ... ah, good times.

What advice do you have for current AdPR students? Sleep is overrated — nap less and do more. Even though you're a college student, treat Monday through Friday like a 9-5 job. Stay on campus all day and get work done even if you don't have class. You'll be amazed how much more productive your days are, and how much more epic your weekends become.