PPB October 2018

FEATURE | PPEF Scholarship Winners 2018 FOUR-YEAR SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS Madison Duval Roanoke, Virginia Georgetown University Daughter of Michael Duval, BMI Tools, Inc. Lucas Hopkins Beaufort, Missouri Greenville University Son of Michael Hopkins, Paramount Apparel International Inc. Makayla Kirkley Jefferson, South Carolina Anderson University Daughter of Rodney Kirkley, Dynamic Brands “I would like to thank you for selecting me to receive a Four-Year Scholarship. I cannot begin to tell you how much this means to me and my family. There were several thousands of dollars that my family and I were going to have to pay toward my tuition, and we did not know how we were going to afford it. Thanks to you, I now have $2,000 less to worry about every year. A tremendous burden has been lifted, and it would not have been possible without your support.” Bianca Lee San Gabriel, California University of California–Berkeley Daughter of Raymond Lee, Promotek “At UC Berkeley, I am planning on pursuing a double major in business administration and computer science this fall. Growing up in an immigrant household, I have always valued the opportunity of a college education. The financial assistance that you have provided me will help alleviate the expenses and allow me to focus on my studies. I look forward to being immersed in everything college has to offer. Thank you for your generosity and support.” Carter Newman Huntington, West Virginia West Virginia University Son of Christopher Newman, Brand Yourself Kelly Pan Upland, California University of California–Berkeley Daughter of Leo Pan, Bags Depot Inc. FRAN FORD SCHOLARSHIP Lionel Whitcombe Davidsonville, Maryland Saint Vincent College Son of David Gray, American Solutions for Business JACK AND MARTY NADEL SCHOLARSHIP Kate Yuan West Windsor, New Jersey Massachusetts Institute of Technology Daughter of Xiaomei Zhang, Advertising Specialty Institute 2015 FRIENDS OF PPMN SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENT In 2014, Jessica Gibbons-Rauch, CAS, was recognized as one of PPB ’s Rising Stars, and she had made a name for herself as a tireless go-getter and a passionate advocate for the regional association PPAChicago. As a strategic account manager at distributor Concord Marketing Solutions, she had already received several promotions and was considering the next step in her career. “Pursuing an advanced degree started as just a supplement to my job and a way to network with other professionals and figure out what I wanted to do next,” she says. After reviewing several programs, she decided to return to her alma mater, Northern Illinois University, to earn her master of business administration degree with a certificate in strategic marketing. She soon realized that scholarships are surprisingly hard to find for students pursuing advanced degrees. “I paid for my entire degree out of pocket, so I had to be realistic about what I could afford,” she says. “Receiving the PPEF scholarship lessened the burden of student loans and showed that the industry valued continuing education.” She enrolled in an evening MBA program that was designed for students with full-time jobs. It allowed her to work at her own pace, which came in handy when Gibbons-Rauch became pregnant. “When I had my daughter, I was able to put my classwork on hold for a semester and then get right back into it when I finished my maternity leave,” she says. “It was fantastic to be in a program that understood I had a day job and a life.” Gibbon-Rauch says her degree changed her perspective and way of thinking, causing her to approach her job more methodically and with a wider lens. Now the director of program development at distributor Club Colors, she manages outbound marketing, graphics, merchandise and vendor relations. “Club Colors has given me the freedom to explore and develop this department,” says Gibbon-Rauch. “They really value the power of marketing and believe in what we are doing to support the message. I am proud to be our brand police.” Jessica Gibbons-Rauch, CAS ALUMNI UPDATE 66 | OCTOBER 2018 |