Temple University’s Klein College of Media and Communication is set to host its second annual Klein College Mock Pitch (KCMP), a mock advertising and public relations pitch competition. Philadelphia Public School District (PSD) high school students will pitch an integrated advertising and public relations campaign to the Philadelphia 76ers during this event on March 10 from 9 a.m. to 1:45 p.m. at Walk Auditorium in Ritter Hall on Temple’s Main Campus.
The KCMP creates opportunities for Philadelphia public high school teens to learn about careers in communication, exposes them to college, fosters a diverse talent pipeline in the advertising and public relations industries and enhances connections between Temple and the Philadelphia community.
The event’s presenting sponsor is the Philadelphia 76ers. Advertising agency Aloysius Butler & Clark (AB&C) and the Fund for the Philadelphia School District are co-title sponsors.
“AB&C is grateful for this unique opportunity to partner with Temple in inspiring the next generation of local marketing and communications professionals,” said Joanna Ford, owner and chief communications officer of AB&C. “The mock pitch competition gives us a chance to be part of the journey of discovery for students considering a career in the field.”
This year's participating Philadelphia Public School District (PSD) High Schools are George Washington High School, Universal Aundenreid Charter High School, The Philadelphia High School for Creative and Performing Arts (CAPA) and South Philadelphia High School.
“The Fund for the School District of Philadelphia is proud to sponsor the Klein College Mock Pitch Competition,” said Kathryn Epps, president and CEO of the Fund for the Philadelphia School District. “The Fund is deeply committed to building strong partnerships across Philadelphia that advance educational excellence for public‑school students. The Klein College Mock Pitch gives our students invaluable, hands‑on exposure to careers in advertising and public relations, while also offering an exciting glimpse into college life. Our students deserve opportunities like this, and we’re grateful to Klein College for creating such an inspiring and impactful experience for them.”
The competition has more than doubled in size since its inaugural year. Over 100 PSD students, faculty and staff will attend. Four PSD high school teams, from four competing schools, will present their pitches to a panel of judges comprised of Philadelphia 76ers representatives, industry professionals and Temple alumni.
Judges for the pitch include special guest judge Marc Jackson, NBC Sports Philadelphia Analyst, Philadelphia 76ers alum, Temple University alum; Morgan Pivovarnik, Manager, Brand and Creative, Philadelphia 76ers and Klein alum; Laila Manigo, Social Media Manager and Klein alum, Philadelphia City Council; Kathryn Epps, CEO, The Fund for the Philadelphia School District; Kenny Kim, Group Creative Director, Aloysius Butler & Clark; and Joanna Ford, Owner and Chief Communications Officer, Aloysius Butler & Clark.
Students will not only give their pitches but also hear from a panel of current Klein College students and alumni, who are also PSD alumni, and take a tour of Temple’s campus. Klein College Mock Pitch founder and associate professor of instruction at Klein College, Stacey Harpster, shared the event’s significance.
“Leveraging experiential learning, community connection and the power of representation, the Klein College Mock Pitch exists to spark dreams in our Philadelphia School District high school students—dreams of college, dreams of career, dreams of a future in communications,” she said. “One of the most important features of the KCMP is that our Klein College alumni and current students, who are also PSD high school graduates, host the event, which includes a panel discussion with the PSD students. Our alumni, who are now employed in the industry, along with our current students, serve as inspiration for their younger counterparts. They represent dreams realized and exemplify the exciting possibilities for our KCMP students.”