Two area business have new, original websites, thanks to collaboration with St. Clair College’s advertising program. Striving beyond a good grade, second-year advertising students worked in groups over the past month for a shot at a $200 award and the honour of having their website design used online. Winners also have the opportunity to continue their work on future upgrades.

Brown and Tiessen, a Leamington Construction Company and Complete Chiropractic Centre in Windsor, took part in the initiative. The students made professional presentations of their website designs to the businesses this week.

"I was impressed with the professional caliber of work produced by the students involved in the creation of our website” said Dave Brown, Co-owner of Brown and Tiessen.

Brown saw four website presentations, awarding Matt Lefebvre, Ryan Mihelic, Jay Nickart, Karl Kowalczykowski and Mark Desjardins the $200 prize. Nicole Rourke, Integrated Internet Marketing course instructor, says the competition was a “win-win situation for the students and businesses alike”.

“Anytime a business partners with the College, it gives our students real, practical experience,” said Rourke. “In this case, students got to experience what it’s like to make a presentation to a real client. The businesses involved got professional, creative, user-friendly websites at an excellent price.”

Dr. Marissa Serra and Dr.Stephanie Medoro, owners of the Complete Chiropractic Centre, viewed four presentations and faced the challenge of selecting just one project to represent his business.

“We were very impressed with the whole process. It is a cost-effective way to develop a website, and at the same time, a wonderful learning experience and opportunity for the students” said Dr. Serra and Dr. Medoro. They chose a friendly yet still educational website design by Katie Stokes, Ashley Waekens, Laura Maitland and Rania Allawnha which they felt would appeal to their broad target market.

Sheri Epp, instructor of the program’s Website Development course, says the competition not only encompassed several skills taught over the past two years, but motivated students to take their training to the next level.

“This is a culmination of all they’ve learned,” said Epp. “They looked at their client’s marketing strategy and considered the appropriate tone and imagery for their website. They did all the legwork and each group ended up with a professional product for their client.”