By Abigail Roering

Nestled under the stairs of the Janet Ayers Academic Center on Belmont University’s campus is a small room that is more often than not, bustling with student activity. Recently, that room is quiet, and it is difficult to find a student working there like you would have one year ago. Instead, the creative juices flow online in a Zoom meeting twice a week as the associates and directors of Tower Creative Communications plan their next project. As one of only 20 student-run, PRSSA-affiliated public relations firms in the United States, Belmont’s Tower Creative is a unique opportunity for all students on campus. Consisting of on average a dozen associates each semester, TCC acts as a practicum that lets students try their hand at real life agency work and work with actual clients to develop public relations strategies and tactics. Each week, the members of the firm meet twice to collaborate on their client activities and dedicate an hour to working on client accounts. Here, the team works together as a cohesive group and is overseen by the panel of student directors who facilitate meetings, organize tasks and manage the expectations of associates and clients. 

Past

Tower Creative Communications was started 13 years ago in an effort to encourage students to expand their learning beyond the classroom. Since that time, over 100 associates have participated and many say it really helped them develop the skills they needed to enter the workforce. Chelsea Lomartire, a former executive director, calls Tower Creative “one of the best experiences [she has] ever had” and recommends joining to everyone. 

Present

Life at Tower has recently changed. With the continuation of the COVID-19 pandemic, Tower Creative Communications has switched to a fully online format, which brings new insights and challenges. “Working with everyone online has been interesting,” said a current associate, who wished to remain anonymous, “I miss seeing everyone in person, but the online stuff has given us a chance to develop new skills that we can bring to our professional lives after Belmont. Who knows when we’ll be in an office? So, learning [to use online tools like Zoom] is awesome!” 

For the Fall 2020 semester, associates are working as one large team focused on one client all semester, following a more in-house model of public relations development. Behaving in this hive mindset has created a tightknit community that intermingles with each other in and outside of the work environment. With all the creative minds working towards a common goal for one client, TCC and its associates are able to craft a comprehensive campaign and do more work than ever for their client. As a functioning PR firm, delivering great work to the clients is essential to Tower Creative.  Given that the work of TCC is focused online, this year has been based in social media.  Belmont University’s public relations department has recently unveiled its new social media management major, and Tower Creative Communications is a great place for a complete immersion experience that allows for hands-on work every day.  

Future

Part of the reason TCC has stood the test of time is due to its inclusivity. Although primarily communication and public relations majors, Tower Creative Communications’ one-credit practicum is open to any student who is interested. This allows for a diversified group of associates and encourages inter-departmental relationship building. In college, it is easy to stay within your college or major because it is your primary focus. Through having open enrollment, Tower lets students visit other disciplines and learning skills that are marketable in any future work setting, such as professional communication and working in a team.  

Additionally, this firm is a great resume builder and free elective. Every day at Tower Creative is one that is spent learning and developing marketable skills that directly correlate to skills needed both inside and outside of the classroom. Many associates use the connections they form here to launch their careers. Most students report that TCC is the first item on their resumes that potential employers ask about and is often the item they are most impressed by at the end of the interview. Working in an agency setting while in school and gaining class credit gives a student a competitive edge when it comes to their peers, which is definitely a large portion of the appeal of Tower Creative. 

Wherever a student’s talent lies, Tower Creative Communications is the forum to expand upon that talent. Tower Creative is always looking for new members to fill their vacant spaces in the next semester. The team of associates and directors at Tower Creative are working especially hard to ensure that the organization lasts for many more years to come. As you look around the Creative Grounds, bustling with student activity and collaboration, you can see the dedication in every keystroke and mood-lightening joke. The people in Tower Creative want to see it succeed and want to bring others into the firm so that they can reap the rewards that Tower Creative Communications has to offer everyone who participates.

Abigail Roering is a double major in Public Relations and Social Media Management and
currently serves as the Executive Director of Tower Communications. If you’re interested in
joining Tower Creative as an associate or working with as a client, please check out the website,
www.towercreative.org.