After carefully reviewing the scholarship applications from many qualified candidates, the Scholarship Committee at the National Institute for Social Media (NISM) has made their final decision. NISM is proud to announce the recipient of its first ever quarterly scholarship award! Drum roll please…

Lynnette is currently the Director of Operations for Social Business Strategies, LLC, a company specializing in boosting a business’s visibility and image with solid and engaging social media activity, telling the right story to the right audience on the right platform. Her past adventures have included work as an independent consultant, helping small business owners find and develop their messages in both print and online media. She has also worked in a public relations firm and has served as a freelance writer for the Twin Cities area lifestyle magazines. In addition to these wonderful professional experiences, Lynnette has been a dedicated volunteer offering her talents to benefit her community.

One of Lynnette’s motivations for applying for this scholarship is to gain additional credibility in the eyes of her clients. She describes what this opportunity means to her this way…“I graduated from college before social media became the powerful communications tool it is, and certainly before it was offered as a degree program, so I am largely self-taught. I am really excited about this opportunity to fill in the gaps in my knowledge of social media strategy, while practicing the skills I am learning. The people at NISM have been very helpful and encouraging, and I know earning certification as a Social Media Strategist will set me apart as an accomplished, credible resource.”

For Lynnette, this scholarship is not simply about taking the exam and putting the Social Media Strategist (SMS) acronym behind her name, it is also about learning and growing personally and professionally. “Simply planning and implementing a social media project for NISM as part of this scholarship opportunity would be a unique and fulfilling learning experience”. The world of social media is constantly changing and we need professionals, like Lynnette, who are ready to learn and grow with the technology.

As a recipient of this scholarship, Lynnette will be awarded both a seat in the NISM certification preparation course and an exam voucher to sit for her SMS certification exam. During her time in the preparation course, Lynnette will create a strategic project plan, implement her plan, and ultimately measure the success of her campaign, giving her additional experience to share with clients and industry professionals.

The National Institute for Social Media is looking forward to seeing the growth and future success of its scholarship program. We will be offering different learning options each quarter to meet the needs of various learning styles. Coming up this September, we will be taking applications for our fall scholarship program focused on the self-motivated, independent learner. To learn more subscribe to our newsletter, follow us on Twitter or contact Jen Radke at [email protected]