Two USC advertising majors have been named Most Promising Minority Students by the American Advertising Federation (AAF).

William Frierson, a senior from Dalzell, and Tim Frisby, a senior from Columbia, were named Most Promising Minority Students by the federation.

The students were selected from a national pool of candidates based on their academic standing, demonstrated interest in the advertising industry, leadership potential, and community and organizational service.

They were honored in New York Feb. 6-8 where they met one-on-one with advertising industry leaders. They'll also be featured in Advertising Age, the industry's leading trade journal, and USA Today.

Frierson is an officer of the Student Advertising Federation and is on the 2007 AAF National Student Competition team. Frisby, dubbed "Pops," became a Gamecock football player as a walk-on and earned the distinction of being one of the oldest--if not the oldest--student to play on a Division I football team.

"This is wonderful news," said Shirley S. Carter, director of the School of Journalism and Mass Communications, who noted the work of associate professor Bonnie Drewniany in identifying the students. The advertising/public relations sequence is headed by associate professor Ran Wei.

Carter said it was noteworthy that this year's winners were males, given the school's campaign to attract and recruit more males to the program. "This will certainly boost our efforts," she said.

The University of South Carolina is one of three universities in the nation to have a student honored every year since the AAF's award began in 1997.

To see highlights of some of USC's previous winners, go to www.jour.sc.edu/news/isite/aaf/pwinners.html.

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