18 Nov Future Marketers Get Hands-On Experience at ASI’s Marketing, Communications and Design Department
In an effort to connect classroom learning with real-world applications, El Modena High School teachers Alexis Greenlee and Brandon Miles recently led their marketing students on a field trip to Associated Students Inc. Communications, Marketing, and Design department at Cal State Fullerton.
For these high school seniors, who have been honing their marketing skills for up to three years, the experience not only offered a glimpse into what the next steps in marketing would be as students but also helped them envision their future in the marketing industry.
A Glimpse Into the Future
Student listening to ASI design manager Michael Greenlee’s presentation. / Credit: ASI’s Marketing Department
The students from El Modena High School have spent their high school years immersed in the Digital Marketing Collaborative program, a comprehensive course designed to give them hands-on marketing experience. The program covers a broad range of topics from social media management, design and analytics as well as English and history. For the students, the field trip was a chance to see how the skills they’ve learned in high school would translate to the real world.
Each department––communications, marketing, social media, video, and design––hosted a 30-minute presentation, with ASI student assistants leading the conversations. The student assistants guided the high schoolers through presentations that not only highlighted the department’s role in marketing but also shared valuable insights into life as a college student at CSUF. For the student assistants, this was an opportunity to mentor the visitors, offering advice and a glimpse into their own experiences navigating college life.
Sebastian Romero, a high school senior in the program, reflected on the impact of the visit.
“This experience helped me understand the college experience a little better. It’s helped me visualize what I want to do next,” he said. For Romero, the visit was an opportunity to find out if he sees himself pursuing a career in marketing, and what he wants from his college experience.
Real-World Application of Marketing Skills
El Modena students listening to student assistant Sofia Serrano explain her role at ASI. / Credit: ASI’s Marketing Department
The Digital Marketing Collaborative program at El Modena is not your typical high school curriculum. The students are introduced to various aspects of digital marketing early on, learning how to manage social media accounts, create engaging content, design logos and even develop marketing strategies. By the time they reach their senior year, many of them have a portfolio put together that will set them apart.
Coordinator and teacher Alexis Greenlee, sees the field trip as an essential part of her students’ preparation for their future careers.
“I thought this would be a great opportunity for my students to come look at what college students are doing as a job,” she explained. “Potentially learn some skills that they could take into their career. A lot of our students can’t wrap their heads around what marketing is even with all the lessons we do with them.”
“To see it in action in this lab is such an incredible opportunity,” Greenlee shared.
For students like highschooler Jade Polee, the visit helped reinforce the idea that marketing is a versatile and valuable skill that applies to nearly every field.
“I realized today that marketing is a dynamic skill that you will use in any job. It’s really important to know how to advertise yourself and anything you do,” Polee said.
Bridging the Gap Between High School and University
El Modena students listening to ASI’s marketing director Michael Fratino give advice. / Credit: ASI’s Marketing Department
One of the primary goals of the visit was to help students better understand what a future in marketing could look like at the university level. The Communications, Marketing, and Design department at ASI is popular a hub for CSUF students interested in this industry yet have a diverse academic background. Student majors in the department range from graphic design and public relations to political science and film. The high school students had the opportunity to observe the work that ASI’s student assistants do, even getting the chance to offer critiques to the graphic designers on their branding for next semester’s Spring Concert.
Brandon Miles, marketing teacher for the Digital Marketing Collaborative who works with the students from grades 10 to 12, emphasized the importance of seeing these skills in action.
“I’m not a design guy by nature, I also don’t do a ton of social media, so what you guys do is not something I’m as well versed in, but it’s still a really important part of our marketing program,” Miles said.
“It’s a really good way for them to see how, if they continue with some of the basics that I teach them, they can apply it to their career moving forward and also apply it while getting a degree in marketing.”
Looking Ahead: Preparing for Success
El Modena students listening to production assistant Matthew Manalo explain his role within the ASI video department. / Credit: ASI’s Marketing Department
For the students of El Modena High School, the trip to ASI’s MCD Department provided an inspiring look at the opportunities available to them in the marketing field. By seeing firsthand what college students are working on and how marketing is taught at the university level, they gained a clearer understanding of the path ahead. All in all, many of the students left the visit feeling more motivated and confident about their next steps, whether that involves pursuing a marketing degree or not.
The visit also highlighted the importance of early exposure to real-world experiences, giving students a head start in an industry that is as dynamic and fast-paced as marketing.
As Alexis Greenlee put it, the trip was a “cool” experience for her students, allowing them to see the real-world applications of what they’ve been learning in the classroom. It helped them recognize all of the possibilities that await in the world of marketing and beyond.
For these students, the future is bright—and their journey is just beginning.