Each term I always have a few students who really jump in and participate. They submit all deliverables, ask questions if needed, participate in discussions AND also go above and beyond some course requirements. As an instructor, we love for students to not just do the “basic requirements” of a course or project. I love the feeling of opening an assignment and being either surprised (in a good way) or impressed. Not that I do not think my students are flat out top notch, but in my courses the students have a multitude of projects, papers, case studies, blog writing, and not to mention the other courses they take and families they need to tend to. Its an awesome feeling of pride when you see that a student really “gets” it and LOVES Social Media / Marketing as much as I do- If that is possible. These students actually enjoy the work and because of that they are able to excel.
I post an article by Rob Jenkins in all of my courses as it reflects many of the same feelings I do about student participation, expectations, and working hard. In this article, Mr. Jenkins says:
“If you’ll look at the college catalog, you’ll see that “A” stands for “excellent.” The fact is, few students are truly excellent. I don’t mean to hurt your feelings by saying that, because I know many of you have been told all your lives just how excellent you are. But you see, the root word of “excellent” is “excel,” which means to surpass all others or to stand out. By definition, not everyone can surpass all others. If everyone stands out, no one does”.
I have had so many wonderful students come through my classes and really see potential in many of them. This term, I am so pleased to have the opportunity to reward some of my top students. I am requesting students to submit their names (and a guest) to me to be put on my guest list for an upcoming Bush Concert. Gavin Rossdale and his band put on an amazing show, some footage can be found here. If you are ‘diggin’ the light show, I’ll pass the comments on to my husband, the designer.
Those wanting to go will create a unique blog post on Social Media as part of an MBA Program. My students in New Hampshire will be able to see the show this Sunday, for others around the US, check the tour schedule for a venue near you. I have had the pleasure of seeing them multiple times, the most recent being this past June in Dallas. I hope you all will enjoy your few hours of fun, and suspect you will be Tweeting about it, actually– as part of the “reward” you MUST Tweet about it!
*Contest ended 7/13 9am Winner Debra B. and Stephanie P. for NH; Shauna H. for NC.
Jessica Rogers, PhD. 
This sounds great, though I’m located in Charlotte N.C. Can I post it on my blog Food For Thought? (this is the same blog I had in the last class I took with you-MKT555). I hope I’m not too late to enter the contest?
Sounds great! FYI July 27, 2012 – Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre w/ Nickelback and My Darkest Days – Charlotte, NC
Wow what a cool reward! Bush and Veruca Salt my first concert ever.
That’s much “cooler”than mine– My first Was New Kids On the Block!
Haha, this would have been amazing!! The first movie I ever saw with a boy was in 8th grade, and Bush was on the soundtrack, I was so in love with Gavin Rossdale. My date, not so much. I just looked at my clock, 9:07, I need to learn how to read faster!