Keeping with a tradition of excellence, Missouri State University’s College of Business Ad Team won first place in the U.S. State Department’s Peer to Peer:Challenging Extremism program. They competed internationally with 21 other universities, and were then selected as the only U.S. team to compete in the final three on June 4.

“It was a privilege to see the Ad Team in action,” said Missouri State President Clifton M. Smart III. “I could not agree more with the panel of judges, who praised the students’ presentation as truly outstanding and polished. It makes me proud to lead Missouri State to see this caliber of students representing us on the world stage.”

The team presented their One95 campaign to the State Department in Washington, D.C. One95 is a digital, grassroots movement uniting the voices of every community to prevent violent extremism. The comprehensive strategic campaign centered on the idea that change starts with one person, then one community, which can impact 195 countries.

“Not only was the presentation professional and polished, the topic of combating violent extremism in all 195 countries in the world fits well with the university’s public affairs mission,” said Dr. Stephanie Bryant, dean of the College of Business. “The materials developed by these students and their advisor, Dr. Melissa Burnett, have the capacity to impact lives and change the world for the better. We could not be more proud.”

This is the third consecutive year the Missouri State Ad Team won first place in this national competition.

“We are thrilled to have placed first in the P2P: Challenging Extremism Initiative,” said Lanae Flatness, Ad Team president. “After the response from the judges and audience members, we hope One95 will continue to grow and spread across the globe. Our team is proud of our program and presentation, and that we could represent Missouri State and the College of Business in D.C.”

The other two finalist teams were from Australia and Canada.

For more information on the team’s work, visit http://www.one95.org/.  You can also watch a video highlighting this accomplishment on the Missouri State YouTube Channel.

Team Members

• Sydney Becker: Senior majoring in Marketing with an emphasis in Advertising and Promotion
• Meagan Bell: Senior majoring in Agricultural Communications with a minor in Advertising and Promotion
• Meagan Brewer: Senior majoring in Marketing with an emphasis in Advertising and Promotion with a minor in Design
• Jordan Carter: Senior majoring in Marketing with an emphasis in Advertising and Promotion
• Jason Cockrum: Senior double majoring in Marketing with an emphasis in Advertising and Promotion with an emphasis in Sales Management
• Aaron Conway: Senior majoring in Fashion Design and Product Development with a minor in Art and Design
• Amber Dreher: Senior majoring in Marketing with an emphasis in Advertising and Promotion
• Lanae Flatness: MBA Student with an emphasis in Marketing
• Ruby Fleener: Senior majoring in Graphic Design
• Keeley Gierer: Senior majoring in Fashion Merchandising with a minor in Advertising and Promotion
• Emily Kozlowski: Senior majoring in Marketing with an emphasis in Advertising and Promotion
• Brittney Laramie: Graduating in May 2016: Marketing with an emphasis in Advertising and Promotion while getting an MBA with an emphasis in Marketing
• Addison Reed: Senior majoring in Marketing with an emphasis in Advertising and Promotion
• Rosella Short: Senior majoring in Marketing with an emphasis in Advertising and Promotion
• Vince Wilson: Senior majoring in Logistics and Supply Chain Management