Carolyn Barkley of Austin, Texas made the lead donation to establish an endowment for the American Advertising Federation (AAF) national competition program in the McCoy College of Business Administration at Texas State University-San Marcos.

In honor of this lead donation, the McCoy College of Business is honoring Ms. Barkley by naming the AAF competition room the Carolyn Barkley AAF Competition Room, effective immediately.  The room is located in McCoy Hall, the new home of the McCoy College of Business.  There will be a formal dedication of the room sometime in spring 2007.

“I am so honored to have this room named for me because education is so very important and critical,” Ms. Barkley said.  “This national advertising competition is one of the finest student programs offered in advertising in the country.  Texas State students participate in it each year and have a strong record of wins and placement at both district and national competition, having won first place nationally in 1990 and 2005.”

Each year the AAF names a national company as the client for advertising teams at universities and colleges all over the USA.  The endowment will be used to help with expenses incurred from participating in the AAF National Student Advertising Competition (NSAC) such as campaign supplies, research expenses, presentation materials and travel expenses.  Students will use the room for group meetings, to analyze research findings, and to prepare a plans book and presentation for the 10th District AAF first level competition in April and for national competition in June.      

Carolyn is a 31-year member of the Austin Advertising Federation and a strong supporter of advertising education.  She served 25 years as Executive Secretary of the Austin Advertising Federation and remains an active member.  She also provides an annual scholarship, the Carolyn Barkley Scholarship in Marketing and Advertising, for a deserving McCoy College marketing student.