Branding, Blazers and the Big City: Westminster’s Marketing and Strategic Communications Intern Reflects on New York Experience

Westminster College provides undergraduate students with a myriad of unique opportunities, and going to New York City with the Blue Blazers Investment Committee is certainly my favorite! As the Chief Marketing Officer of the committee and an intern for Westminster College’s Marketing Department, seeing the city through my camera lens was a unique, unforgettable experience. The city is constantly in motion: people bustling about, billboards changing from second to second, different cultures on every street. It would be impossible to capture it all, but it was exciting to immortalize the excitement and energy the Blazers experienced while taking in the city that never sleeps. I am proud and thrilled at the opportunity to encapsulate our experience in photo and video format to share with our campus!

While meeting with some of the top financial agencies in the country was incredible, some of my favorite memories from the trip lie in the experiences I got to have in the city with my fellow Blazers. I was amazed at the views from The Edge ― a sky-deck that allows you to view the city from above. The bravest among us stood on glass flooring that put the city right under our feet!

We were also given the opportunity to mingle at the Red Eye Grill with Westminster alumni, Churchill Fellows, and individuals who donated their time, energy, and hearts to the trip. I made great connections with alumni young and old while enjoying delicious appetizers and participating in traditional Churchillian toasts. And don’t get me started on the amazing food we had on this trip! From our first authentic slice of New York Pizza at Angelo’s Coal Oven Pizza to the courses that wouldn’t stop coming at Carmine’s, we certainly took our bite of the Big Apple!

However, I think my favorite part of the trip was seeing Times Square in the snow. From a Digital Media Marketing and Business Communications major’s perspective, it was a dream to see this epicenter of advertising in real life. I likely saw an example of every marketing technique I’d ever learned in just one glance! Despite that excitement, there is something quintessentially “New York” about Times Square, and seeing it in the snow was just as magical as they make it sound in the movies. I am so thankful to have experienced it once in my lifetime.

It is impossible to express the extent of my gratitude to those who made this experience possible, but I will take a stab at it regardless. My sincerest thanks go to Brock Ayers, President Lofe, Riley Zack, Laura Ayers, Karen Tompson-Wolfe, Tanys Hines, and every contributor to this trip. I will never forget this amazing experience I had thanks to them, the Blue Blazers Investment Committee, and Westminster College!

Coming soon: Watch for Natalie’s exclusive video of the Blue Blazers Investment Committee’s exciting trip to New York. Way to go, Natalie!