HIRE AN OWL: TEMPLE UNIVERSITY CAMPAIGNS FOR STUDENTS' CAREERS

Recruiting students with a take-charge attitude. Developing robust regional employer networks and job prospect pipelines. Involving graduates in career readiness efforts. From acceptance to alumni status, Temple University is committed to preparing students for the real world and positioning them for success. And in an unprecedented career [services] move in the lead-up to graduation, the school is confidently campaigning for students’ futures.

Via print, digital, and out-of-home advertisements in the greater Philadelphia area, a candid new University brand campaign – ‘Hire an Owl’ – features the journeys of outstanding Temple students, and issues a direct call-to-action to the region’s employers to hire them for internships and jobs.

“It’s our mission to prepare each and every student for all aspects of professional life, and we take a very personalized approach,” said Rosalie Shemmer, Senior Director, Temple University Career Center. “Large-scale career fairs are replaced with intimate networking events where alumni serve as mentors, and employers meet with students one-on-one. The new ‘Hire an Owl’ campaign is a clever extension of that ideology – we’re publicizing individual, in-progress student success stories, and there’s potential to directly impact career placement.”

Building on Temple’s ‘Take Charge’ brand narrative, ‘Hire an Owl’ was developed by local branding agency 160over90 to show corporate leaders that hiring a Temple grad could be their best investment yet.

“Traditionally, college career marketing means trotting out the latest graduation rates and statistics. We’re flipping that notion on its head by launching a campaign that showcases Temple’s career services strengths through the lens of student accomplishments, shared proudly and publicly throughout the Philadelphia market,” said Brendan Quinn, Creative Director at 160over90. “We always say it’s better to show than tell with marketing. And these students show how determined, tenacious, and ready Owls are when they enter the workforce. With a number of Temple grads here on staff at 160over90, we can testify to that.”

Creating Opportunities for All

Inspired by his own struggles with dyslexia, graduating senior Matt Cahill (’15) is pursuing a career in education – specifically, working with students who have learning disabilities. While at Temple, Matt started a campus chapter of Eye-to-Eye, an art-based mentoring program that partners learning-disabled college and middle school students. Matt participated in Eye-to-Eye in grade school, so it was particularly meaningful for him to bring that empowering experience to campus, paying it forward and delivering messages of perseverance to North Philadelphia youth. Today, under Matt’s leadership, Temple’s Eye-to-Eye chapter has become the largest in the country.

A Positive Force

Senior Lydia Fehintola Lawson (’15), a biology major from Manchester, NJ, is planning to take her career in a different direction after completing Temple’s competitive Diamond Peer Teacher Program. After time spent providing supplemental instruction in lower-level and GenEd courses, she got a real sense of the rewards of college-level teaching. Upon graduating, Lydia has her sights set on London [where both of her parents are from] and dedicating her career to closing the education gap – another Temple grad powering the world.

Wall Street Ingenuity

It’s not just Temple seniors who are in a post-graduation mindset. At just 15-years-old, Chris Fricker (’16) was more-than-intrigued by the 2008 financial crisis. By the time he set foot on Temple’s campus three years later, he was intent on pursuing a career [and dual degree] in finance and accounting. In short order, Chris was appointed Director of Temple’s student-run investment fund, became a teaching assistant in the finance department, and served as a Fox Peer Mentor. These experiences, coupled with strong coursework, earned Chris internships with a U.S. Senator, a top Wall Street investment bank, and a fortune 500 Pharmaceutical Company. Now a rising senior, Chris is ready to make the most of his final year and catapult into the financial field.

“All Temple students possess a certain spark – a ‘take charge’ spirit – that drives them to make a positive impact on the world,” said Karen Clarke, Vice President for Strategic Marketing and Communications, Temple University. “We fully support of our students and their professional aspirations, and ‘Hire an Owl’ is an awesome platform to help them transition into the working world, make a statement, and make a real difference.”

For details on Temple’s ‘Hire an Owl’ campaign and more information on Matt, Lydia, and Chris, visit temple.edu/takecharge. More student spotlights are in development.

ABOUT TEMPLE UNIVERSITY

Temple University is experiencing incredible momentum thanks to its diverse, driven and motivated students, faculty and alumni. Powering the university’s ascent are innovative approaches in admissions and affordability; a campus transformation; plentiful creative and research opportunities at both the undergraduate and graduate levels; rigorous academic programs; an indelible bond with the city of Philadelphia; and groundbreaking work in science, research and technology. Temple is home to 38,000 students, is the fifth-largest provider of professional education in the U.S., and offers more than 400 academic programs in 17 schools and colleges on nine campuses. Temple’s influence extends around the globe, with longstanding campuses in Tokyo and Rome; programs in London, Beijing and other locations; 150 partnerships with international universities; and nearly 300,000 living alumni. In addition, students on Main Campus hail from more than 100 countries.

ABOUT 160OVER90

A branding and creative services agency with offices in Philadelphia, Newport Beach, CA, and Gainesville, FL, 160over90 has vast experience generating results for nationally recognized brand leaders. 160over90’s client roster spans consumer brands, among them Nike, Godiva, Under Armour, American Eagle Outfitters, and Ferrari North America; professional sporting teams including the Philadelphia Eagles, Miami Dolphins, and Los Angeles Angels; and an esteemed roster of higher education institutions including UCLA, University of Virginia, University of Oregon, University of Wisconsin, and the University of Florida. Services range from the development of single creative pieces [print collateral, packaging and websites] to institution-wide image and rebranding campaigns. http://www.160over90.com.