Among the roughly 100 students who apply each year for a scholarship from The Lagrant Foundation (TLF), only 15 students receive one of the $5,000 awards. This year, sophomore marketing major Jaqueleen A. Larson was one of those students.
On June 4, Larson received her scholarship at the Hilton in New York City, along with 14 other undergraduate and graduate ethnic minority students from around the country. Students involved with TLF who received scholarships must be studying marketing, advertising or public relations, according to the foundation’s website.
Since becoming involved with the organization, Larson received an internship with LAGRANT Communications, an advertising, marketing and public relations firm that targets the African-American and Latino consumer market.
“Having this money will allow me to work fewer hours at my current job so that I can finally open up my schedule for an internship,” Larson said to the Office of Public Affairs. “Getting a breadth of intern experience, especially in the advertising field, is crucial to post-graduation success; and so, I thank LAGRANT for allowing me to pursue my goal of being a successful advertising agent.”
According to the website, TLF “is a nonprofit … organization whose mission is to increase the number of ethnic minorities in the fields of advertising, marketing and public relations by providing scholarships, career development workshops, professional development, mentors and internships.”
Five graduate students received $10,000 scholarships from TLF, while the remaining ten undergraduate students received $5,000 each, according to the Office of Public Affairs for Cal State Long Beach.
Among the activities scholarship participants took part in while in New York was a career development workshop, where students met with industry professionals.
While in New York, Larson was “eager to learn during the events taking place in New York,” said Erika Avila, program manager for TLF. “She participated in discussions and was active in all activities. [Larson] showed enthusiasm and a commitment to her field.”
TLF also provides internships for undergraduate students involved with its program. They “receive ongoing professional development … until students obtain a position in advertising, marketing, or public relations,” and make mentors for students who are from the various professions associated with TLF.
According to Avila, “Students who receive the scholarship have shown a commitment to pursue a career within the fields of advertising, marketing and public relations. They must show that they are advocates of promoting diversity within the field.”
