SeVohn Hunter, a student in the West Virginia University Reed College of Media’s accelerated Master of Science in Journalism degree program, is one of just 14 students in the nation to be selected as a 2020 Stickell Honors Intern. Hunter will be interning virtually at Leo Burnett Worldwide, a global advertising agency.
This prestigious annual internship places students at top firms in the marketing communications industry throughout the United States, but due to the coronavirus pandemic, 2020 internships were suspended until this summer.
I felt so honored to even be nominated let alone selected as a Stickell Intern. As an advertising student, professional experience is crucial before entering the job market. It has been my dream to work in an advertising agency, but I didn’t think I’d get the chance to work at such a prestigious agency until further into my career. I’m hoping this internship will give me experience working as an account manager, solidify for me that advertising is what I’m meant to do, and get me excited for my future career. SeVohn Hunter
The Vance & Betty Lee Stickell Honors Student Internship Program is headquartered at the Stan Richards School of Advertising and Public Relations at The University of Texas at Austin and matches approximately 20 outstanding students with media organizations, advertising agencies and client and supplier companies across the country for 10-week long internships each year. The interns earn a salary for their work and typically receive scholarship for housing assistance when the internships are in-person.
A native of Martinsburg, West Virginia, Hunter attended WVU Potomac State College for two years before transferring to the College of Media on WVU’s main campus. She has worked as a podcast editor for The Daily Athenaeum (DA) student newspaper and as a social media marketing specialist for Prospect and Price Creative, the DA’s advertising agency. She is currently a graduate assistant for the Eberly College of Arts & Sciences and has worked as a multimedia intern for WordWrite, a public relations and communications agency in Pittsburgh.
Geah Pressgrove, associate professor and chair of the advertising and public relations program, nominated Hunter for the Stickell Honors Intern program, and Jennifer Harker, an assistant professor at the Media College, supported Hunter through the application process.
"This national competition will accept only one application from each university. SeVohn’s passion for her work made her the perfect nominee to represent WVU and the Reed College of Media," Harker said. "SeVohn worked tirelessly over her Thanksgiving holiday break on a 17-page application that required several letters of recommendation. She wrote, rewrote and finessed a convincing piece about an integrated brand promotion that showcased her knowledge and passion for the industry, and she professionally showcased her work via a digital portfolio. Her application was strong because it mirrored her desire to become the best she can become for her future career path."
Hunter was in Harker’s Martin Hall Agency (MHA) capstone course last spring. MHA is a faculty-led, student-run integrated communications firm where students provide pro bono advertising and public relations work for West Virginia nonprofits and small businesses.
“My two semesters with Martin Hall Agency was one of my favorite experiences during my time at WVU,” Hunter said. “The class is difficult, but so rewarding. I learned so much about myself, my work ethic and my future goals. I want to work in digital marketing for a small business. Ultimately, I’d love to start my own podcast marketing agency.”