SpringfieldNewsSun.com

SPRINGFIELD — Young adults from Covington, Cleveland, Columbus and Kentucky have fallen in love with Springfield.

They want you to, as well.

On Thursday, July 31, six Wittenberg University students presented a proposal to help the city promote itself, not to the outside world, but within.

The presentation to civic and educational leaders was the culmination of an eight-week internship with the city during which the college juniors and seniors went from considering themselves outsiders, to "considering ourselves permanent residents of the city," said English major, Aubrey Herbst.

Most said they are considering staying in Springfield after graduation.

Their reasons to stay are the very ones they believe the city should promote to its citizens — Springfield's "super assets — things we can brag about like crazy," said management major Brian Schubert.

They listed the top 14 — "there were too many to have a top 10 list," Schubert explained, and presented a two-year image campaign that could be as conservative as printing brochures and using local Web sites or as ambitious as using billboards, banners, bus wraps and an interactive Web site.

The group chose the campaign slogan and logo of "Oh! Springfield" — a play on words combining the city's awe factor and its geographical location.

The target audience would be the city's middle-class families, Schubert said.

Unlike lower-income residents who are plugged into many social services and higher-income residents who are often the movers and shakers of the city, middle-income residents often remain uninformed, wondering where their tax dollars are going.

The campaign's theme would rotate through the city's assets and demographics throughout the year, management major Ashley Manson said.

The city has made no decisions on the proposal, Mayor Warren Copeland said. Wittenberg has given the students permission to tailor the campaign for the campus this fall.

Contact this reporter at (937) 328-0347 or kmori@coxohio.com.

—-

Springfield's Top 14 assets

Heritage Center

Wittenberg University and Clark State Community College

Westcott House

Springfield Symphony Orchestra

Affordability

Nextedge Applied Research and Technology Park

Springfield Arts Council

Citizens Police Academy

Historic Districts

After-School Programs

Kuss Auditorium

Parks and Recreation

Cancer Center

Downtown Entrepreneurship

—-

Springfield Summer Internship Program members

Ashley Manson, Class of 2009 from Covington, Ohio

Ben Adams, Class of 2009 from Eaton

Matt McDonald, Class of 2009 from Lakewood

Taylor Hafley, Class of 2010 from Stanford, Ky.

Aubrey Herbst, Class of 2009 from Columbus

Brian Schubert, Class of 2009 from Norwalk