Lynn students participate in intensive, week-long marketing program

LYNN ? Business attire isn’t generally what comes to mind in regards to a boot camp, but that is what more than a dozen students from Classical High School and KIPP Academy donned for a business boot camp at DigitasLBi.The global marketing and technology agency in Boston recently hosted its fifth annual Eternship, a week-long marketing boot camp where local high school students live and breathe the creation of an advertising campaign.Twenty-five students were presented with a client challenge at the start of the week, then, guided by DigitasLBi employee volunteers, the group got to work. Students were immersed into the agency, learning about different capabilities, including media, technology, creative strategy and analytics. They also received lessons on public speaking and how to give a client presentation, and they got one-on-one mentoring sessions with agency employees.Working together in small teams, the students created a presentation and presented their work.?We’re so proud and excited to see Eternship reach this milestone,” says Melissa York, vice president/group account director, and chair of the Eternship program. “Year after year, the program has introduced new perspectives and opportunities to students across Greater Boston. They learn about careers and skills that they never thought of before.”And, in turn, DigitasLBi employees often find themselves inspired by the students’ passion, creativity and plain fearlessness, York said.This year, several of the students are coming in through DigitasLBi’s partnership with two nonprofit organizations: Let’s Get Ready and Minds Matter, both of which guide low-income high school students through the process of applying to college. Let’s Get Ready’s New England director, Nakia Navarro, served as one of the judges at the end of the week, alongside several DigitasLBi executives, including Barbara Goose, president, DigitasLBi Boston and Detroit.The boot camp is not the company’s only foray into the service area. Eternship comes on the heels of numerous other DigitasLBi community initiatives, including awarding grants to three different nonprofit organizations through its Hearts in Action program: the Big Sister Association of Greater Boston, the Pete Frates #3 Fund and the MSPCA. Among other ventures, 350 DigitasLBi employees also volunteered for the agency’s annual Community Service Day event, helping nonprofit Cradles to Crayons put together packages of toys, clothing, books and more to benefit over 3,000 children in Massachusetts ? in just one day.