Advertising alumnus Johnathon Fuerte’s future looks bright. 

Fuerte, who graduated in May, was named one of the American Advertising Federation’s Most Promising Multicultural Students for 2021. The program — first introduced in 1997 — connects the advertising industry with the brightest multicultural college seniors across the nation. He is the 32nd SJMC student to receive the award. 

For Fuerte, this opportunity provides a taste of stability at a time when uncertainty has become the norm. “It’s really common for people my age to have imposter syndrome,” he says. “It’s nice to know that I have potential. I can do this.” 

It’s not the first time Fuerte’s hard work has paid off. He served as president of the university’s Latin American Student Organization — his “home away from home” — and he pinpoints his acceptance into the American Association of Advertising Agencies’ Multicultural Advertising Intern Program last summer as the turning point of his college career. 

Fuerte’s focus lies on polishing past projects while further developing his niche: creative technology. He credits advertising instructor Jeff Williams for first pitching the idea. 

“I think positioning myself in that way has helped me and allowed me to get these opportunities that I’ve been able to have,” he says. “I’m hoping that I’ll be able to become some kind of creative technologist or work in experience design, UX [user experience] — that kind of thing. That’s my end goal.”