AAFT College Internship Program
The American Advertising Federation-Tucson (AAFT) serves as the premier industry association for marketing, advertising, and creative professionals. AAFT and the Tucson Advertising Federation Education Foundation (TAFEF) actively support advertising education and promote marketing-related opportunities for students in the Tucson area, aiming to inspire them to build their careers locally. AAFT and TAFEF have an endowed scholarship fund that supports annual internships with member companies/organizations for students pursuing marketing-related degrees.
Each year, applications for the AAFT Spring College Internship Program will open at the beginning of the University of Arizona’s Fall semester. Applications for student interns and AAFT host companies will be due the first week of November each year. The internship will formally start at the beginning of the student’s Spring semester.
The AAFT College Internship Program is a PAID program and requires all students to work a minimum of 10 hours per week for a 16-week semester (with a minimum hourly rate of $16/hr). Through a competitive application and interview process, eligible students are matched with an AAFT member company/organization (e.g., iHeart Media, KVOA, Caliber Group, etc.), and subsequently interviewed/selected by that specific organization.
The official AAFT College Internship Program Policy can be found HERE.
Applications Have Closed for the 2026 Spring Semester.
AAFT’s 2026 Spring Internship Selectees:
- KVOA: Edgar Lopez, University of Arizona
- Fast Prints: Greta Linstrom, University of Arizona
- Odyssey Storytelling: Joselyn Zuro, University of Arizona
- Eye on the Ball Radio Show: Ava Widener, University of Arizona
- iHeart Media: Jessica Rezier, University of Arizona
- Live the Dream Media: Erin McBride, University of Arizona
- AZ Lotus: Jack Dougherty, University of Arizona
- Catalina Foothills Magazine: Skyler French, University of Arizona
- Big Brothers, Big Sisters of AZ: Isley Douglas, University of Arizona
- Good JuJu Agency: Heaven Yoon, University of Arizona
- White Hat Marketing: Brooke Hadley, University of Arizona
- Southern Arizona Attractions Alliance: Audrey Aldridge, University of Arizona
Student Internship Criteria:
All students should be a junior, senior, or graduate student AND must be studying a communication-related field to participate. Students must be enrolled at least half time at an accredited College or University with emphasis in advertising or marketing (Marketing, Media Arts, Digital Arts, Communication, Journalism, Graphic Design, Web Design, Photography, Illustration, or Visual Communications).
Students must:
- Maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0.
- Complete all work assignments given by the employing company.
- Follow the standards of professional practice set by the employing company.
- Be available to work on-site in the greater Tucson area.**
**While most internships are in-person opportunities, some companies may offer hybrid or remote opportunities.
AAFT’s 2025 Spring Internship Selectees:
- Arts Express – Carlos Franco, University of Arizona
- AZ Lotus – MayaDenise Gaskin, University of Arizona
- Big Brothers, Big Sisters – Hannah Dworsky, University of Arizona
- Bustos Media – Tamara Vasquez, University of Arizona
- Caliber Group – Jordan Robinovitch, University of Arizona
- Catalina Foothills Magazine – Anna Lineberry, University of Arizona
- Dark Horse Media – Julia Deeby, University of Arizona
- Good JuJu Agency – Maria Yescas, University of Arizona
- iHeartMedia – Chelsea Shauger, University of Arizona
- KVOA – Savannah Harris, University of Arizona
- Lab Coat Marketing – Joanna Labija, University of Arizona
- Loud Picture – Nev Lawless, University of Arizona
- Sandoval Creative – Nicole Barcelo, University of Arizona
- Strongpoint Mobius Partners (NuPoint Marketing) – Zianna Chavez, University of Arizona
- Tucson Young Professionals – Jensen Peyton, University of Arizona
- White Hat Marketing – Aidan Roberts, University of Arizona