We are the again.

scratch pad is derived directly from the special collections in James Madison Universities’s library. “The Scratch Pad” was a student publication at the state teacher’s college of Harrisonburg, Virginia. The only record on file is from 1931. We were inspired by their tagline “published now and again…” and wanted a strong connection to our university.

We are the again.

To us, scratch pad is just the beginning. The beginning of every brainstorm, of every project, design, copy, strategy, and research. It’s where ideas are brought to life. Pen to paper.

Our founding principles

Values

Accountability
Determination
Diversity
Passion
Goals

To be a professional place for a diverse group of students to thrive.
To create a personalized, experiential environment.
To offer opportunities to gain real-world experience.
To build mutually beneficial opportunities and networks.
Mission

scratch pad is a creative outlet for building campaigns and connections with purpose.
Vision

To inspire creativity through collaboration in the Shenandoah Valley.

What we do

National Student Advertising Competiton (NSAC)

Each year, we compete in the National Student Advertising Competition. This helps aid students in gaining real-world experience through the creation of strategic advertising campaigns with corporate clients including Adobe, Meta, Tinder, and Wienerschnitzel.
Passion Projects

We get it…college can be stressful. Passion Projects are the perfect outlet to have fun and get creative. These in-meeting projects consist of mini briefs from the minds of our President and VP to inspire our members to think outside the box. Ever thought of what a McDonald’s skincare line might look like?! Our members could tell you all about that :-)
Workshops

During our regular meetings throughout the year, we host workshops to help improve students’ professionalism. These events include resume and cover letter workshops and portfolio enhancement. We work towards planning events that advance our members’ abilities.
On-Campus Engagement

scratch pad is looking to expand it’s presence on campus by partnering with campus clubs and organizations to network with students with diverse backgrounds. We love to offer our services to fellow Dukes!
Community Engagement

Beginning in 2020, scratch pad executives began serving the Shenandoah Valley in 2020 by reaching out to minority owned businesses as a way to give back to our community. We offer nonprofit services such as marketing plans, social media management, branding services, and more. We love to use our vast array of talents to better not only our community, but our world.
Guest Speakers

scratch pad has brought in many guest speakers from various companies to help provide guidance and advice to our current members. We have hosted speakers from Ogilvy, McCann, Google, and The Martin Agency.