Michelle Montenegro, a junior advertising and public relations major from Aurora, Nebraska, is the winner of the 2025 Bailey Lauerman Fund for Student Opportunity.
Montenegro currently interns at The Leadership Center in Aurora, Nebraska. On top of her course work and internship, she volunteers as a CliftonStrengths Student Coach and a William H. Thompson Scholars Learning Community mentor/tutor and belongs to the UNL Ad Club and the Public Relations Student Society of America. As the winner of the Bailey Lauerman Fund for Student Opportunity, she will receive a $5,000 scholarship and the internship of her choice here at BL.
Michelle’s impressive resume and inspiring application essays made her stand out from other applicants this year. She’s passionate about creating platforms for diverse voices, writing that, while growing up, she rarely saw herself or her experiences reflected in advertising.
“As a first-generation Mexican American, I carry the weight of my family’s history with me every day—their sacrifices, their resilience, their dreams. It’s that history that fuels my passion for creating stories that matter. I want to be the creative director who changes the narrative, who crafts campaigns that go beyond selling a product—so they speak to people’s hearts. I want to tell stories that make Latin and immigrant communities feel seen, valued, and empowered in ways they never have been before.”
Her commitment to volunteerism and community building are reflected in her resume. Her desire to use her creativity to build an advertising industry that better reflects the world around us shines through in her essays.
“I’ve always been driven by a desire to help others see the beauty in their stories. Whether it’s mentoring students, rebranding social media platforms, or creating campaigns, I’ve learned that storytelling has the power to connect, heal, and uplift. I want to create work that resonates deeply with those who have felt overlooked, work that makes them feel proud of who they are and where they come from.”
Michelle’s excitement and passion are infectious. Her ambition to create work that celebrates diverse groups of people is what the Bailey Lauerman Fund is all about. We’re thrilled to offer her an internship that can help create a springboard for her career and support her vision of a more inclusive and representative ad industry.
“Michelle’s volunteerism both on and off campus at the University of Nebraska is evidence of her dedication to ensuring that marginalized individuals and underserved communities feel seen and supported," Bailey Lauerman CEO Greg Andersen said. "Michelle’s desire to ‘give a voice to the voiceless’ through marketing communications should be an inspiration for all of us in our industry.”
The Bailey Lauerman Fund for Student Opportunity is an extension of our relationship with the UNL College of Journalism and Mass Communications. The scholarship aims to encourage and provide assistance to advertising and public relations students who support diversity through their schoolwork, volunteerism, and activities. Our ultimate goal is to create more opportunities for fair representation within the industry.
