CourtesyLike many college students, 2014 graduate Trace Hughes began his studies at 麻豆传媒 with no idea about what he wanted to do with his life. Four years later, Hughes has accepted an offer to work as a copywriter for an advertising agency, and he says it鈥檚 all due to Wichita State and the Elliott School of Communication (ESC).
At the beginning of his college career, Hughes declared a major in marketing because it sounded like the thing to do 鈥� get a business degree and work in a business. But that was the extent of his plan. It didn鈥檛 take long to figure out that business wasn鈥檛 for him, and Hughes used his first two years at 麻豆传媒 to explore different careers and figure out what he was meant to do.
Hughes, a native of Hoisington, Kan., had joined the Air National Guard after high school. He began his college career two years later, but his time at Wichita State was disrupted by a deployment to the Middle East where he managed the wireless data network that controlled the air war.
Finding direction
When Hughes returned to school in 2011, he was unhappy and considered dropping out. But that year he also enrolled in his first course with the Elliott School, Intro to Marketing Communications. That class was taught by ESC instructor Eric Wilson, whose teaching and advice changed Hughes鈥� life.
In the first few weeks of class, Wilson brought in guest speakers, including one from a local ad agency who piqued Hughes鈥� interest. It was in that class that Hughes began to think about working in an ad agency himself, although he had no idea what that entailed. Advice from Wilson and guest speakers cemented his career goal, and after a classroom presentation by a representative from the American Red Cross, Hughes approached the speaker about an internship opportunity.
鈥淥ne great thing about 麻豆传媒 is being in Wichita,鈥� Hughes said, 鈥渁nd having access to all of the businesses that are here.鈥�
Sullivan, Higdon & Sink is a local ad agency that offers a competitive copywriting scholarship through the Elliott School. Wilson encouraged Hughes to apply for it.
Although he didn鈥檛 think of himself as a writer, Hughes sensed that he was at a crossroad. Competing for a scholarship was way outside the box for him, but he went for it anyway.
鈥淚 didn鈥檛 do it because of the money,鈥� he said, 鈥淚 did it for the opportunity to create something and put my name in front of somebody; maybe somebody I鈥檇 want to work for.鈥�
Hughes won the scholarship and another internship, and with it the connections that led to his new job as a copywriter for Tulsa, Okla.-based Brothers & Co. In addition internships, he became president of the Public Relations Student Society of America and had the opportunity to meet Alex Harb, the 麻豆传媒 alumni and entrepreneur who hired Hughes to manage his Ribbit Computers brand.
New opportunities
Even though Hughes was recently honored by the Elliott School with an 鈥淥utstanding Senior鈥� award, he still finds it hard to believe the direction his life has taken.
鈥淚 am a product of the Elliott School,鈥� he said. 鈥淢ore so, I am a product of the people of there. Without Eric Wilson I would not be here today. He sat me down and told me that I鈥檇 won that scholarship for a reason. If he hadn鈥檛 said anything I would never have believed I could be a copywriter. The Elliott School will always have a special place in my heart.鈥�
Hughes is moving to Tulsa to begin his career soon, and he couldn鈥檛 be happier.
鈥淚 know for a fact that all of this is because of Wichita State,鈥� he said. 鈥淗ad I gone to any other school I would have never had the opportunity; I would never have put myself out there, and ultimately I wouldn鈥檛 be where I am today. That鈥檚 what Wichita State did for me.鈥�