Applied Marketing and Media Certification
About the Program
This summer, the American Advertising Federation of North Alabama launched its Certificate in Applied Marketing & Media—an immersive, real-world program designed to equip emerging creatives, marketers, and communicators with the skills, experience, and professional connections they need to thrive.
Over eight weeks, participants gained behind-the-scenes access to leading agencies, media companies, and creative professionals while completing hands-on projects for local nonprofits and small businesses.
Studio Days
Participants toured and learned from local creative leaders, including:
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Allied Printing – Print & design processes, production tour
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Hudson Alpha – Communications strategy inside a major biotech organization
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The Library Of – Professional headshots & studio tour
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Flourish Consulting – “Day in the Life of an Agency” presentations
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McWilliams Marketing – Social media strategy in action
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Beyond Rockets Podcast – Behind-the-mic storytelling and production
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The Scout Guide – Curated local business branding with Dawn Pumpelly
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Nonprofit & Small Business Projects
Students partnered with local organizations to complete a 10-hour service project in areas like social media, event planning, content creation, and marketing strategy.
2025 partners included:
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Christian Job Corps
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New Hope Children’s Clinic
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Brubakers Design
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Mentorship
Every participant was matched with an industry mentor for three or more one-on-one sessions. Mentors provided career guidance, feedback, and LinkedIn recommendations—helping students refine their goals and professional presence.
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Capstone & Celebration
The program concluded with an End-of-Program Party & Capstone Showcase at Coin Coworking. Students presented their projects in a 5-minute “Who I am – What I worked on – What I learned – What the results were” format.
Guests enjoyed a dessert reception and celebrated each graduate’s achievements.
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What Students Gained
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AAF North Alabama Certification in Applied Marketing & Media
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Real-world portfolio experience
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Professional headshot
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LinkedIn recommendation from mentors and program leadership
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Networking with agencies, nonprofits, and creative professionals
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A supportive, creative community
From our Mentees
I genuinely enjoyed every part of the program, [...] I was incredibly lucky to be paired with a mentor who not only shared my career interests but also offered support and advice that went beyond marketing. We had meaningful conversations about our journeys, and I felt comfortable sharing my goals with someone who has already been through the steps it takes to get there. She inspired me and gave me confidence in my path forward.
The nonprofit project work was the most helpful in building my understanding of real-world marketing. It gave me hands-on experience applying what we learned in a real context, working with a client, solving actual problems, and seeing the impact of our strategies. It made everything feel more relevant and practical.
[This program] gave me a better idea of what I’m interested in. I realized how much I enjoy the creative side of marketing—especially things like branding, content creation, and working with nonprofits or purpose-driven organizations. It helped me see that I want to be in a role where I can be both creative and strategic.
Seeing how enthusiastic she was to learn and how organized she was. She's set up really well for herself, and I don't think being open to learning a lot should limit her. She's very open to learning, and I know that's a valuable asset when starting in the industry.
Seeing the students enthusiasm for learning and their curiosity during the studio days really impressed me.
[I] Loved this program - it was designed with what we wished we had known at their age....and also to show the interns that marketing is a big profession with lots of different avenues - sometimes in book learning you don't get the depth of the field - it was a good way to show them a bigger picture of the industry.