Award-winner Ashley Cheng (COM’06) puts her new degree to use
In the six weeks before graduating, Ashley Cheng (COM’06) received five local and national awards.
Ashley Cheng finished her undergraduate career in the College of Communication with the kind of bang most students only dream of. In the six weeks before graduating — a feat she accomplished in just three years — Cheng received five local and national awards:
•Scarlet Key Award (Boston University)
•Blue Chip Award (College of Communication)
•Edward L. Bernays Award (Public Relations Society of America)
•William M. Cavanaugh Scholarship/Award for outstanding public relations student in New England (Publicity Club of New England)
•Daniel J. Edelman/Public Relations Student Society of America Award for outstanding public relations student
The Edelman Award includes a $1,500 cash prize as well as a three-month paid internship with New York City’s Edelman PR firm, named the 2006 Large Agency of the Year by PR Week magazine.
Cheng, who began her internship at Edelman earlier this month, said that her BU professors stressed having professional experience to complement the theoretical material covered in class and helped prepare her for the real world.
“COM really encouraged us to work outside of class and get internships,” says Cheng. “This made the transition [to the professional world] easier because I felt like half of me was in college, and the other half was working. I think that is the best way the University could have prepared me for the real world.”
She has the following advice for incoming freshmen: “Get involved early. I know everyone says that, but it’s so true. It’s the best way to figure out what you love and what you want to do.”