{"id":17635,"date":"2025-12-17T10:54:17","date_gmt":"2025-12-17T16:54:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.maryville.edu\/mpress\/?p=17635"},"modified":"2025-12-17T10:54:17","modified_gmt":"2025-12-17T16:54:17","slug":"maryville-university-students-go-viral-partner-with-name-brands","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.maryville.edu\/mpress\/maryville-university-students-go-viral-partner-with-name-brands\/","title":{"rendered":"Maryville University Students Go Viral, Partner with Name Brands"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Four
Four Maryville students went viral by creating content with over a million views.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Three name brands got the benefit of the creativity of students in Maryville University\u2019s social media campaigns class this past semester \u2013 with results that boosted the companies\u2019 bottom lines, sparked online engagement, and enhanced students\u2019 experiential learning.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

When Maryville Professor Dr. Dustin York cold-called several fast food brands and offered students the chance to create viral content on their behalf, he wasn\u2019t sure how many responses to expect. But Chipotle Mexican Grill, Smoothie King, and St. Louis favorite Ted Drewes immediately accepted, offering product, merchandise, and gift cards to fuel authentic, high-impact content. Examples of the student-created content for the name brands can be found on Instagram <\/span>@MaryvilleUSocial<\/span><\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In addition, four students in York\u2019s class \u2013 Cheslyn Tilley (6.5M view post), Anna Kabbes (5.9M view post), Britney Tran (1.2M view post), and Faith Horton (1.1M view post) \u2013 \u201cwent viral\u201d by creating content with over a million views and earned the ultimate honor of skipping the final exam.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe don\u2019t just talk about experiential learning at Maryville \u2013 we do it,\u201d said <\/span>Professor Dustin York<\/b>. \u201cOur students are learning strategy, creativity, analytics, and brand-building at a level that translates directly to the workplace. I\u2019m so grateful to Chipotle, Smoothie King, and Ted Drewes for embracing this partnership and giving our students a chance to shine.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Maryville University Provost Scott Chadwick<\/b> emphasized why opportunities like this matter: \u201cThe economy is changing, and Maryville is helping our students change with it. Today\u2019s graduates need real-world experience before they leave the classroom \u2013 and Maryville delivers that. The ingenuity, strategic thinking, and collaborative creativity our students showcased are exactly the skills the modern workforce demands.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Students said the experience not only sharpened their skills, but expanded their confidence.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI never thought I\u2019d be one of the students going viral this semester, so to say it came as a shock would be an understatement,\u201d said <\/span>Maryville freshman Cheslyn Tilley<\/b>. \u201cThrough virality, I learned just how powerful social media really is, and experiencing that firsthand was a great way to kick off my college journey.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBeing able to work with real-world clients and seeing how our content strategies really work on social media was very valuable and definitely a resume builder!\u201d said <\/span>senior Faith Horton<\/b>.<\/span><\/p>\n

With many companies eager to harness the power of TikTok, Instagram Reels, and other short-form platforms, Maryville\u2019s hands-on approach helps students graduate with portfolios that rival agency professionals.<\/span><\/p>\n

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About Maryville University<\/b>
\nFounded in 1872, Maryville University is a comprehensive and nationally ranked private institution with an enrollment of well over 9,000 students. Maryville offers over 90 degrees at the undergraduate, master\u2019s and doctoral levels, as well as several certificates that align with the undergraduate and graduate education levels. Maryville is recognized as the third fastest-growing private university in the United States by The Chronicle of Higher Education, serving students from 50 states and 56 countries. More than 50,000 Maryville alumni globally, many of whom work and live in the St. Louis region.<\/p>\n

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