Her passion for creativity ignited at a young age when she began sketching. She later transitioned from sketching to videography, which she now considers her true passion. However, when she first started college, she was uncertain about how to apply her artistic skills in the real world, making it challenging to choose a major.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was originally a graphic design major. I truly didn\u2019t know exactly where I was headed, but I switched to advertising and public relations in my sophomore year after doing more research on the college. It felt like a better fit for me than graphic design, and it certainly has been,\u201d she explained.<\/p>\n
After changing her major to advertising, Pastoor discovered a way to combine her love for cinematography with her studies.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m not great at creating digital ads in Photoshop. I prefer working with video. I get to express myself and share my ideas through my video production skills in advertising, and that\u2019s what I love about it,\u201d she shared.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
![\"Lainie](\"https:\/\/cci.utk.edu\/adpr\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2025\/03\/DSC00075-684x1024-1.jpeg\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nCurrently, she is involved with the student organization, UT Ducks Unlimited chapter, where she applies the skills she has learned in the classroom to real-world situations.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m currently the social media chair for the University of Tennessee Knoxville Ducks Unlimited chapter. My best friend, Mia Cervetti, serves as one of the co-chairs. While I\u2019m not into hunting, she asked me to manage the social media page, and I was happy to agree. I produce a lot of video content for them and their Instagram. They host a banquet every year, and I created an entire video for that, which was really cool,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
In the spring semester of 2024, Pastoor took an advertising creative strategy course taught by Assistant Professor Minjie Li.<\/p>\n
Li explained, \u201cIn the advertising creative strategy course, the students and I co-create an agency environment and workflow.\u201d<\/p>\n
During the course, students are challenged to develop evidence-based, goal-oriented strategies and big ideas. Beyond that, they must bring these concepts to life through cohesive and engaging productions across various media platforms and advertising formats.<\/p>\n
\u201cThese deliverables serve as the foundation for their portfolio building, helping them bridge the gap between strategic thinking and creative execution. In the process, they learn how to conduct good business and be effective storytellers,\u201d Li said.<\/p>\n
Pastoor and her group chose Universal Music Group as their subject, which recently celebrated 90 years in the music industry. This served as the premise for their project.<\/p>\n
\u201cTo celebrate their 90th anniversary last year, we aimed to showcase the legacy of their artists and music over the decades. We had a couple of drafts for a video idea, but it really came together when we chose McKay\u2019s as the location and my best friend, Paige Trondson, as our actress,\u201d Pastoor said.<\/p>\n
The concept of the video took viewers through a nostalgic journey, highlighting some of Universal\u2019s most popular artists. From \u201980s pop-rock to EDM and Drake, the video illustrated how music has evolved over the years. Pastoor was responsible for filming and editing the entire project.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
![\"Lainie](\"https:\/\/cci.utk.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Lanie-and-Li-for-Web-e1741368557219-742x1024.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nHer work earned her a gold award at the American Advertising Awards Competition during the American Advertising Federation Knoxville Gala. The annual American Advertising Awards (previously known as the ADDY Awards) is the world\u2019s largest and arguably toughest advertising competition. These awards embody the spirit of creative excellence by recognizing all forms of advertising across diverse media and entrants of all levels from around the globe. AAF-Knoxville hosted the local competition and awards gala, with gold and silver winners eligible to compete at regional and national levels.<\/p>\n
Pastoor said, \u201cI\u2019ve received awards in the past for my artwork in high school. However, receiving an award for an advertisement, especially for my video production and the entire process of creating the ad, is truly special. This is my first award related to advertising, so it means a lot to me. Seeing my work recognized was an incredible experience. I\u2019ve always dreamed of creating these types of videos, and seeing it come to life, along with receiving an award for something I envisioned, is very meaningful.\u201d<\/p>\n
Li commented, \u201cLainie and her work exemplify all the crucial qualities required for creating an advertisement: strategic acumen and creative vision. These qualities prepare her for opportunities like this. More importantly, she is proactive and takes action to embrace the opportunities that come her way. I do not doubt that she\u2014alongside her supportive peers\u2014will continue to achieve great things.\u201d<\/p>\n
Pastoor believes that her success would not have been possible without the influence of Li\u2019s class on her academic journey. According to her, Li\u2019s teaching style, personalized feedback, and encouragement to submit her work for the awards contributed significantly to her success.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s truly one of the first teachers I\u2019ve had who has shown that he cares about every student,\u201d she stated.<\/p>\n
She emphasizes the importance of building relationships with professors for academic success by saying, \u201cI know he has helped me a lot, even with little tips and tricks, and has pushed me to grow. He was the one who advised me to submit my video for the awards, and I know he was very excited when I turned it in. He is one of the best teachers I\u2019ve ever had.\u201d<\/p>\n
Looking to the future, Pastoor hopes to continue using her video production skills, whether in an agency or with a single company. She is willing to move to a big city to pursue her passion and would love to work in places like Chicago, Texas, or Tennessee.<\/p>\n
She shared that her journey at UT has greatly impacted her future success and encourages other students to seize opportunities and develop strong connections with faculty.<\/p>\n