North Park University Launches Chicago Advertising Campaign Focusing on Students' Stories

CHICAGO, IL--(Marketwire - January 18, 2010) - North Park University unveiled its 2010 Chicago-based outdoor advertising campaign on January 4 with a series of advertisements that feature current North Park students and introduce audiences to http://mystory.northpark.edu, a Web site where these students discuss the impact of a North Park education on their lives, goals, and aspirations in brief video segments.

Partnering with CBS Outdoor, Titan Advertising, JCDecaux, and Bishop Taylor Group, North Park University continues to focus its outdoor advertising efforts primarily on the CTA El, buses, bus shelters, and billboards, although this photographic campaign represents a departure from its text-only campaigns in preceding years.

"We're allowing the faces and the voices of our students to tell North Park's story through theirs," explained the University's Director of External Relations, Lilian Samaan.

The students, like Colombian-born sophomore Valentina Rodriguez, represent a diversity of backgrounds and interests, as well as a variety of disciplines -- from media, to music, to ministry. The advertisements also include three messages -- "Be Distinctive. Be Intentional. Be Purposeful" -- that underscore the University's "distinctively Christian, intentionally urban, purposefully multicultural" core values.

Rodriguez, a member of the University's rowing team, explained how rowing for North Park has taught her the perseverance needed to live her life more intentionally. Senior Bishara Kuttab noted that North Park has allowed him to explore his creativity in media studies while connecting with students from different cultures.

Profiles of all nine students can be viewed online at http://mystory.northpark.edu, and North Park University's outdoor advertising campaign is scheduled to run through the spring.

About North Park University

Located in Chicago, North Park University is a comprehensive Christian university within a close-knit urban community, and serves 3,200 undergraduate and graduate students. In addition to more than 30 undergraduate majors, North Park offers an adult degree-completion program, as well as graduate and continuing education in business, nonprofit management, nursing, education, music, and theology. By integrating faith with learning -- as it has done since its founding in 1891 by the Evangelical Covenant Church -- North Park University seeks to prepare students for lives of significance and service. More information is available at www.northpark.edu.

Contact Information: Media Contacts: Aubrey Pauly for North Park University (312) 780-7218 apauly@dresnerco.com Joshua Taustein for North Park University (312) 780-7219 jtaustein@dresnerco.com