Four hundred and fifty students from 28 midwestern colleges invaded DeKalb last weekend as NIU hosted the American Marketing Assocation’s regional conference.

“Market Yourself, Discover the Advantage” included events such as speakers, luncheons, dinners, a mock job interview and an evening at McCabe’s Lounge Limited. The topics discussed focused on selling oneself into a good career after college.

The conference involved the “largest attendance in Midwestern regional history,” said NIU’s AMA Regional Director Sal LoSchiavo. “This town is definitely capable of holding conferences and has all the facilities.”

The highlight of the weekend was Friday evening, when a member of the board of directors from Universal Pictures was on hand to witness as AMA presented the Starlight Foundation with a check for more than $7,000, LoSchiavo said.

The check to the Starlight Foundation was a result of the Midwest chapters’ fundraising events since mid-September, LoSchiavo said. About half of the total check is from a recent campus walkathon NIU’s AMA chapter sponsored.

The foundation, AMA’s regional charity, grants terminally or chronically ill children wishes.

Saturday’s keynote speaker, Robert Kerrigan received a standing ovation, LoSchiavo said. Kerrigan spoke after a day filled with various speakers, such as representatives from WLS-TV, IBM, Motorola and Coors Brewing Company.

The weekend proved to be “a complete success” for everyone involved, LoSchiavo said. “There’s nothing we would have done differently.”

“The student center and Roz Randal, Director of Conferences, did an outstanding job with the organization of the rooms and the food service,” LoSchiavo said. “The regional committee of 100 people deserve most of the recognition.”

AMA, the 705-member club, is a “perfect way to get a taste of marketing,” LoSchiavo said, inviting anyone to attend its Tuesday evening meetings.