Marketing management students at the University of New Mexico’s Anderson School of Management were recognized recently with the Scholastic Achievement Award (SAA) in the NHTSA Tween Seat Belt Use Program, awarded by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and EdVenture Partners. UNM was one of six universities selected to participate in the program and one of only two institutions to receive an SAA award for outstanding efforts in achieving the program objectives.

According to the National Center for Health Statistics, motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for children ages 3 to 14.

As part of the semester-long program, students in the promotion management course at the Anderson School created an integrated marketing communications plan aimed at increasing and maintaining proper seat belt use and seating position among Tweens (ages 8-12). Lecturer John Benavidez and Associate Professor Catherine Roster mentored the students.

The campaign developed by the UNM team included public service advertisements for television, radio, and outdoor media as well as strategies on how to maximize social media and web-based interactive technology. Elements of the campaign may be used by NHTSA in future child passenger safety marketing campaigns sponsored by the agency.

As an SAA recipient, representatives from the class were invited to Washington, D.C. at the end of the fall semester to present their marketing campaign and results to NHTSA executives and representatives from the Ad Council. The team that traveled to Washington included Tracey Boughton, Sarah DeLorenzo, Byron Gibbs, Nicole McCarty, and Glenn Tenorio.

The NHTSA Tween Seat Belt Use Program was designed and managed by Orinda, Calif. based EdVenture Partners (EVP). EVP is the only marketing education consultancy in the United States that brings together educators, students, and clients for mutual collaboration and benefit.
 
After attending the Scholastic Achievement Award presentation in Washington, Tony Sgro, CEO of EdVenture Partners praised the students for their well-thought out, strategic campaign developed for NHTSA.
 
“The UNM speakers were professional, articulate and held the audience captive throughout their entire presentation,” said Sgro. “Their performance validates the important adage…it is not only what is said, but how it is said. Clearly, the UNM students scored big points for both their content and their style.”
 
The award adds to a string of previous achievements by Anderson School marketing students. In both 2005 and 2006, graduate students won first place in the Cadillac National Case Study Competition. More recently, a group of undergraduate marketing students took top honors in the 2008 Project Acceleration: Subaru Impreza Collegiate Challenge.

About The UNM Anderson School of Management

The Anderson School of Management at the University of New Mexico is dedicated to excellence in professional management education. At the Anderson School, faculty, staff, and students are committed to shaping the intellect and character of the next generation of business leaders, advancing the knowledge and practice of management, promoting economic development, and building a vibrant intellectual community that serves the highest and best interests of all our stakeholders.
 
Founded in 1947 and named for New Mexico oil man and longtime ARCO/Atlantic Richfield CEO Robert O. Anderson in 1974, the Anderson School offers more than a dozen concentrations at the BBA and MBA levels and is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business in the top 20% of business schools in the nation. The School is funded by the State of New Mexico and further support is generated by the Anderson School of Management Foundation. For more information, the public can visit www.mgt.unm.edu, email info@mgt.unm.edu, or call (505) 277-6471.

About Nvent Marketing Partnership

Nvent Marketing Partnership is a student-run marketing communications agency at the University of New Mexico Anderson School of Management. The agency provides students with the unique opportunity to develop, implement, and evaluate integrated marketing communications campaigns for public, not-for-profit, and government organizations. Nvent is supported by the Anderson School of Management Foundation and the agency’s clients. The agency is housed in the Marketing Center, a state-of-the-art facility that functions as a lab, studio, and collaborative learning space. For more information on partnership opportunities with the agency, email nvent@mgt.unm.edu or call (505) 277-6471.