Ashley Snyder, a senior Advertising major and Creative Media Industries minor from Leander, Texas, has been named the College of Media & Communication's Banner Bearer for the Spring 2024 commencement ceremony. As a driven undergraduate student, Snyder is eager to embark on the next phase of her academic journey by pursuing a master's degree in Mass Communication in CoMC. With a passion for lifelong learning and a desire to delve deeper into her field of study, she sees a master's degree as an opportunity to expand her knowledge.
Banner Bearers are students who are chosen to represent the College of Media & Communication based on their extracurricular involvement, professionalism, academic merit, and leadership. Of the 350 CoMC graduates for the Spring 2024 semester, Snyder not only possessed each of these qualities all while maintaining a perfect grade point average, but she also completed her undergraduate studies in three years.
During her journey in CoMC, Snyder has consistently excelled in her studies, earning top marks in her courses and garnering recognition for her intellectual curiosity and dedication to learning. Beyond the classroom, Snyder has also distinguished herself as a leader, actively participating in student organizations and serving as a mentor to her peers. As a Banner Bearer, Snyder embodies the values of the College of Media & Communication and serves as a symbol of excellence and inspiration for her fellow graduates.
It truly feels like home to me, and it makes me happy to know I'll be staying here another year and a half for graduate school.
“My time in CoMC has been so amazing and also so full of different experiences,” said Snyder. “I have been involved with KTXT and the Bullet Ad Team all three years, and Study Abroad in London last May— I made conscious efforts to make the most of my time here even though it has been a little shorter. I was also able to form a lot of good relationships with people here— it truly feels like home to me, and it makes me happy to know I'll be staying here another year and a half for graduate school. CoMC is a very special place.”
Along with the many student organizations she has gotten involved with in the College of Media & Communication, Snyder did not stop there. She is a dedicated member of Texas Tech University's band, where she plays a crucial role in enhancing campus culture through music. With a respect for performance and a talent with playing instruments, she contributes to the band's dynamic sound and engages audiences at even the biggest of events.
I play the piccolo and march. This past fall, I was able to play with my fellow bandmates at the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York
“I am also a member of the Goin' Band from Raiderland— I joined my first year on campus and stayed throughout my time here,” said Snyder. “As a member of the band, I play the piccolo and march. This past fall, I was able to play with my fellow bandmates at the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York— as funny as it came out to be, I was one of the people who was able to be a Banner Bearer for our school so this will be my second experience having this honor.”
Beaming with pride as a member of one of the college's prominent student organizations, Snyder holds the prestigious honor of being a national champion near and dear to her heart. With a collaborative spirit, she and her teammates achieved remarkable success in competing at a higher level, earning recognition for their outstanding achievements.
One of my favorite memories in CoMC is when the Bullet Ad Team won nationals during my freshman year,”
“One of my favorite memories in CoMC is when the Bullet Ad Team won nationals during my freshman year,” said Snyder. “We were able to travel to [Nashville, Tennessee] and I was on the pitch team at the time— I was able to present our campaign. It was such an incredible moment because the team had not won the award in roughly 20 years. For us to be up against as many competitive schools as we were and won, it made us all a very proud team.”
Even through her short amount of time on campus, Snyder expresses deep appreciation for her decision to be a part of the College of Media & Communication. Reflecting on her own college experiences, she highlights the myriad opportunities for academic growth, personal development, and community engagement that the college provides. From dedicated faculty mentors to diverse extracurricular activities, Snyder credits CoMC's supportive environment for fostering her intellectual curiosity and nurturing her passions.
“I fell in love with the environment here,” said Snyder. “It has always been so welcoming. The college offers so many Day One Opportunities for students to get involved in right away— the radio station, the TV station, and the Bullet Ad Team are just a few to mention. Students are able to create things and gain real-world experience while still in school and I'm glad I was also able to be a part of that. I always knew I was a creative and strategic person, and I found a place where I fit in to this type of environment.”