Conestoga news

April 30, 2019 2:02 PM

Students raise $20,000 for children's backpack program

Students in Conestoga’s Advertising and Marketing Communications program have raised more than $20,000 for Send ‘Em Off Smiling (SEOS) - a local non-profit organization dedicated to providing backpacks filled with clothing and supplies to underprivileged children in the region.

Conestoga College - SEOS 2019.jpg
Students in the Advertising and Marketing Communications program raised $20,000 for Send 'Em Off Smiling -- a non-profit that provides underprivileged children in the region with backpacks filled with clothing and supplies.

The students’ donation was the largest SEOS has ever received.

“Together our students are changing the lives of children in our region one backpack at a time,” said faculty member Kolby Thomson-Latimer. “I’m so proud of every single student. They gave it their all over the last five weeks and came back with open arms filled with the donations they’ve received in the community.”

Thomson-Latimer teaches the event planning course and first introduced her students to SEOS in 2018 when the class raised more than $13,500 through a golf tournament. This year, in celebration of SEOS’s 25th anniversary, students collected corporate donations in the community, and held a celebratory dinner at the Grand Valley Golf Course on April 18 where they hosted more than 130 guests.

Using the skills developed through their coursework the 30 students planned the event over 15 weeks, establishing its name (Packing Smiles for 25 Years), artwork, and developing the sponsorship letter used for potential donors. Students also took time to create a video reflecting on their experience and what they’ve gained from working with SEOS.

The funds raised will provide more than 130 backpacks to children in the region.

The Advertising and Marketing Communications two-year diploma program provides strategic and creative experiential opportunities within the exciting world of advertising. The emphasis in the program is on the integration of creativity and planning by blending projects and assignments throughout the courses. Students learn about advertising principles and advertising sales management and develop advertising concepts from idea to finished product. They are also introduced to the principles of public relations, media planning, web design, event planning, and entrepreneurship. 

Visit the program page for more information.