Blog

<p>One of the best parts about being a Temple Owl is our location. We aren’t just going to school in Philly, we are living in Philly. The city is an extension of our campus life. While students have to keep an eye on their budget, Philly is full of ways to explore art, music and experiences without draining your bank account. The best way? Student discounts. Here is a guide to some of the best student discounts available in Philly that will help you make the most of your time while also making your wallet happy.</p><h3>Entertainment &amp; Leisure Discounts</h3><ul><li>The Philadelphia Zoo Student Membership includes a year of admission and other benefits for just $35.</li><li>Localhost Nerd Street, an e-sports game center, has a free student hour from 4pm-5pm and also offers Temple, Drexel and Harrisburg University students $5 unlimited play on weekdays and $10 unlimited play on weekends.</li><li>Fans of the local NHL team, the Philadelphia Flyers, can register for the Flyers Student Rush program by signing up here or texting ENROLL to 61259 for last minute discounted student tickets for home games. Alerts for tickets get sent out for 24-48 hours beforehand. In order to get the Student Rush offers, you need to register with your .edu email.</li><li>Winterfest at Blue Cross RiverRink has $3 off skating admission Monday-Thursday with a valid student ID.</li><li>Tickets to Wonderspaces, the interactive and immersive art exhibit, can be discounted for $20 tickets if you show your student ID.</li><li>If your idea of leisure is shopping, fear not. Online student discount platforms like UNiDAYS and Student Beansare free and have discounts for dozens of popular brands.</li></ul><h3>Arts &amp; Culture Discounts</h3><ul><li>Philadelphia Museum of Art has $14 tickets for students who show their school ID, but they also offer a $25 student membership that has benefits such as admission to the Rodin Museum, a 10% dining and shopping discount, and access to members-only programs.</li><li>The Philadelphia Orchestra hosts an annual free concert specifically for college students with a valid ID.</li><li>Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens, an immersive mosaic exhibit and non-profit museum on South Street, offers $3 off tickets for students to go through the mosaic maze.</li><li>The Philadelphia Ballet has two different offers. Students with valid ID can get free opening night rush tickets, or they can get $10 student rush tickets for other performances if they show their student ID an hour before the show begins.</li><li>Campus Philly, a source for student discounts, has a program called Campus Philly Open Arts that offers free and discounted tickets to museums, theaters, and cultural events. All you have to do is sign up with your .edu email.</li></ul><h3>How to Access &amp; Maximize Discounts</h3><ul><li>Make sure your OWLcard is on your phone to show people to validate student status</li><li>Sign up for UNiDAYS, Student Beans, and follow Campus Philly on social media.</li><li>Your SEPTA key card, used to pay for local public transit, has perks! Keep it on you for discounts on food, museums, sports, shopping, and more.</li></ul><p>Being students at Temple means we have access to one of the country’s most dynamic cities. Thanks to the amount of student discounts, there are countless ways to experience the culture and community of Philly affordably. Now, grab your OWLcard, some friends, and start exploring!</p>

Temple Students’ Guide to Student Discounts in Philly

<p>College is about more than the papers, classes, and exams. Yes, grades matter, but some of the best lessons come from experiences outside the classroom. Student activities are what really bring learning to life. These clubs, organizations, volunteering opportunities, and campus events are a chance for you to make connections, build your leadership skills and gain real world experience. They help you build your future, and have fun doing it.</p><p>Getting involved doesn’t just make the college experience more fun, it also prepares you for your life after graduation. Here’s how.</p><h3>Leadership Development</h3><p>While joining a student organization is one thing, the most impactful benefit of being involved is the opportunity to lead. No matter how small the position, leadership opportunities will open doors and provide hands-on experience that classes can’t.</p><p>Every time you take initiative, you are growing your leadership ability. Having a position of leadership means people are relying on you and holding you accountable. You have to navigate challenges and find solutions for your organization. Whether you’re running a meeting, managing a budget, or leading a committee, you learn to trust yourself, communicate, and take responsibility for the outcomes.</p><p>From event planning to decision-making and team coordination, taking on a leadership role in your student organization builds real skills that employers want and experiences to show them what you’re capable of.</p><h3>Transferable Skill Building</h3><p>Even if you don’t hold a formal leadership role, being involved still gains you some valuable skills. No matter what field you want to go into, student activities are a training group for the transferable skills that employers are looking for.</p><p>Student activities will teach you how to collaborate with diverse groups of people and communicate effectively with them. Your problem-solving skills are bound to improve due to practice with last-minute changes. From balancing classes and your organization, your ability to prioritize, plan ahead, and manage your time effectively will strengthen. These are the qualities employers look for no matter your major.</p><h3>Professional Networking</h3><p>The relationships you build through student activities are easy networking. These connections can become stepping stones to internships, jobs, and opportunities.</p><p>The friends you make in clubs will end up being professional connections down the road. Who knows, your friend from a student organization you were in for a year could end up offering you a job in the future. The faculty and alumni who act as advisors, guest speakers, and sponsors for your organizations can lead to mentorship and job leads. Many student organizations also have events such as regional or national conferences where you’re able to connect with professionals and other students.</p><p>Networking might sound intimidating, but just by showing up and participating, student activities can make it natural.</p><p>Being involved in student activities and organizations is more than an extra way to pass time, it’s essential. Leadership roles, transferable skills and professional networks all grow from being active in campus life.</p><p>Whether you get involved in a pre-professional organization, run for student government, join greek life, or volunteer at events, student activities involvement helps you to stand out as a professional. So, join that club. Run for that position. Volunteer for that organization. Get involved. You’ll be forever thankful you did.</p>

“Why Getting Involved Matters: The Impact of Student Activities on Leadership and Career Skills”

<p>Elmo has graced our television screens for decades, but the little monster’s cultural relevance is fresher than ever. From late-night interviews to TikTok cameos, and that unforgettable “How is everybody doing?” tweet, the fuzzy red Muppet has proven he’s more than just a preschool icon, he’s a multi-generational brand.</p><p>Since its 1969 debut, “Sesame Street” has grown into a global phenomenon, blending education with entertainment and becoming a beloved staple in homes for over 50 years. Staying relevant takes more than just nostalgia, it takes strategy. Through character branding, emotionally resonant PR, and constant adaptation to new media landscapes, “Sesame Street” continues to thrive across generations.</p><h3>Evolving Across Platforms Without Losing Heart</h3><p>While Elmo started on PBS, he’s now a cross-platform powerhouse, appearing on HBO Max, YouTube, TikTok and soon Netflix. This media evolution has allowed “Sesame Street” to stay visible and meet families where they already are.</p><p>Take Elmo’s “Brushy Brush” song, a YouTube hit that turns tooth brushing into a danceable routine. Or Sesame Street’s TikTok videos featuring fan favorite monsters and celebrity guests. These moments adapt characters to current platforms without sacrificing their core identity.</p><h3>Nostalgia as a Strategic PR Tool</h3><p>Many of today’s parents grew up with “Sesame Street” and the brand uses this generational overlap to their advantage. Through clever cross-generational moments like Elmo interviewing Jimmy Fallon or teaming up with Ms. Rachel, the show keeps both parents and children engaged.</p><p>This isn’t a new strategy for “Sesame Street”. The show has always spoken to both adults and children, creating an opportunity for co-viewing that fosters connection. As Slate notes, adults often engage in frivolous theories and debates with one another about the shows their children watch. They find joy in rewatching episodes with their kids, sometimes laughing harder than the toddlers do. From plush toys to graphic tees, “Sesame Street” items are as popular in nurseries as they are on Etsy due to the nostalgia and emotional attachment many adults feel as they rewatch the show with newer generations.&nbsp;</p><p>The heart of this enduring success is consistency. Elmo’s high-pitched giggle, third-person speech, and boundless empathy haven’t changed, making him instantly recognizable, trusted, and emotionally dependable for both children and adults.</p><p>That emotional consistency builds trust with viewers. Backed by “Sesame Street’s” mission to educate, Elmo and friends become more than characters, they become learning companions as we grow up. This trust, paired with strong design and values, has turned the “Sesame Street” characters into cultural mainstays.</p><p>While kids discover Elmo for the first time, adults revisit him with affection, an emotional connection that keeps the brand alive and deeply personal.</p><h3>Celebrity Collabs and Cultural Awareness</h3><p>Over the years, “Sesame Street” has welcomed hundreds of celebrities from their first guest James Earl Jonesin 1969, to One Direction, Michael B. Jordan and Lin-Manuel Miranda. These appearances reinforce educational messages through recognizable faces.</p><p>Beyond star power, “Sesame Street” stays clued into the moment. Elmo’s 2024 tweet asking how everyone was doing prompted tens of thousands of emotional replies, a flood of memes, and think pieces analyzing why the post hit so hard. The answer? Elmo isn’t just a character, he’s seen as a barometer for our collective feelings as a culture.</p><h3>Social Media as Character Development</h3><p>Elmo’s digital presence is more than just adorable, it’s character-led branding done right. Behind the childlike charm on platforms such as &nbsp;X, TikTok, and Instagram is a team that has mastered the art of turning a fictional puppet into a living, breathing, virtual celebrity. Elmo’s voice online is sweet, self-aware, and consistently on-brand, allowing him to connect with audiences in a way that feels both playful and personal.</p><p>As The Conversation notes, Elmo blurs the line between character and influencer. His posts do more than entertain, they subtly promote “Sesame Street” episodes, merchandise and partnerships while staying firmly rooted in his well-loved personality. Even viral moments like his legendary beef with Rocco are “meme-worthy”, yet always reinforce the brand’s wholesome, humorous tone.</p><p>This is no accident. Branding expert Douglas Holt describes “iconic brands” as those that become cultural touchstones because people form deep emotional connections with them. Sesame Street, which has been shaping childhoods since 1969, is one of those brands. Longevity depends on continual reinvention, according to Holt, and that’s what Elmo’s social media presence achieves. His accounts serve as a form of ongoing character development, turning Elmo into a digital companion who engages with fans in real-time.</p><p>By treating social media as an avenue for both marketing and storytelling, Elmo’s team builds emotional resonance and brand loyalty across generations. Whether he’s spreading joy, reacting to chaos, or promoting new content, Elmo does it in a way that feels authentic, engaging, and unmistakably Elmo. It’s not just maintenance, it’s iconic branding with a pulse.</p><h3>Why Elmo Still Matters</h3><p>“Sesame Street” has never stopped adapting. Whether it’s introducing a Muppet with autism, translating the show across languages and cultures, or pairing up with modern educators like Ms. Rachel, they understand that staying relevant means staying flexible, but never losing sight of the core mission.</p><p>The brand’s ability to present Elmo not just as a puppet but as a presence online, on TV, and in culture, cements his status as a beloved, iconic figure. He doesn’t just reflect culture; he participates in it.</p><h3>Final Thoughts</h3><p>Elmo and his “Sesame Street” friends aren’t just relics of childhood, they’re vibrant, evolving cultural figures. Through a mix of timeless branding, platform adaptation, strategic PR, emotional resonance, and a nuanced social media presence, they continue to grow with their audience, not away from it.</p><p>In a fast-moving world, “Sesame Street” reminds us that relevance doesn’t come from chasing trends—it comes from intentional branding, knowing your audience and staying true to the brand’s mission while embracing change.</p><p><em>Written for the Devine+Partners "Rising Stars" series. Devine + Partners is a Philadelphia public relations agency. We offer a full range of communications services – from message and content development and media relations to issues management and employee and community engagement.</em></p>

How Elmo and friends have remained relevant across generations

<p>With the rise of Broadway-to-Hollywood adaptations, it has become clear that not all modern movie musicals are marketed equally – and this offers some lessons for PR pros who don’t know a sitzprobe from a dress rehearsal.</p><p>“Mean Girls” (2024) and “Wicked” (2024/2025) were promoted to audiences in drastically different ways with strikingly clear results. While both are musicals, “Mean Girls” nearly hid that fact in its press campaign, whereas “Wicked” leaned all the way in.</p><p>The contrasting campaigns behind “Wicked” (2024/2025) and “Mean Girls” (2024) offer valuable lessons in audience targeting, tone, and media strategy. While “Mean Girls” leaned into virality, internet humor, and Gen Z appeal, “Wicked” opted for a story-focused rollout that emphasized theatricality, legacy, and emotional scale.</p><p>This blog unpacks how each movie musical’s PR strategy reflected its brand identity and highlights key takeaways for communicators looking to balance modern engagement tactics with authentic storytelling and long-term brand value.</p><p>Ultimately, the way these two movie musicals were promoted, and the public response they received, show what can happen if you don’t commit to telling your story both clearly and authentically.</p><h3>Mean Girls: A Musical in Disguise</h3><p>“Mean Girls” played their publicity campaign fast and loose, using hints of nostalgia while also branding the film as “Not your mother’s Mean Girls.” The brand came across as very Gen Z-centric, irreverent, and meme-driven, as TikTok and Instagram Reels were the primary platforms where content was focused. Viral moments, cast-driven content, and nostalgic modernity leveraged existing TikTok fame and Gen-Z influencers.</p><p>While focused on cast personalities, virality, and cheeky bits of nostalgia, the trailers and teasers omitted the songs and choreography from the film. Social content gave little to no exposure of the musical elements so crucial to the success of the musical itself. While attempting to manage expectations between the 2004 fans, the musical’s fans, and new audiences, the promotional materials surprised and confused viewers who weren’t clear that it was a musical at all when they went in.</p><h3>Wicked: A Musical and Proud of It</h3><p>In a clear contrast to “Mean Girls”, “Wicked” (2024/2025) embraced a publicity strategy rooted in prestige, reverence, and theatrical emphasis. From the start, the film marketed itself as an “event,” emphasizing its scale and emotional weight. The trailers showcased key musical moments and choreography, signaling to audiences that this was unapologetically a musical (and a grand one at that).</p><p>Public relations efforts leaned heavily on legacy and spectacle. Broadway icons such as Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth, who originated the stage roles of Elphaba Thropp and Galinda Upland, were included in press events, connecting with long-time fans and reinforcing the film’s deep ties to its Gershwin Theater origins. This reverence extended to the visual and tonal branding. Emerald hues, original logo elements, and musical iconography were consistent across teaser content.</p><p>The media rollout followed a traditional, high-prestige route. A trailer debuted during the Super Bowl, coverage appeared in Vanity Fair, and the campaign maintained a controlled, slow-burn strategy rather than a viral or fast-paced one. Exclusive interviews, theatrical trailers, and placements in glossy outlets helped shape a narrative of serious artistry and cultural weight.</p><p>Star power played a key role in the PR strategy. Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo’s involvement was carefully managed, with their transformations into Glinda and Elphaba framed as major acting milestones. The press leaned into this framing, building anticipation around their performances and elevating the adaptation as an homage to its Broadway roots. The campaign’s broader appeal targeted Gen Alpha all the way up to Boomers, making “Wicked” not just a movie release, but a cultural moment for every generation. With a deep and heartfelt respect for its Broadway legacy, this adaptation was treated as sacred.</p><h3>Audience Reaction</h3><p>Especially when it comes to films that blend genres, audiences want to have clarity. Hiding the musical aspect may gain more clicks from audiences unfamiliar with the musical theatre genre, but it risks confusing or alienating viewers. Musical theatre fans expect a celebration of the art form, not subtle nods. For a community that often doesn’t have the general public focused on them, it’s important to make sure that their musicals are treated and viewed with authenticity and effort.</p><p>“Mean Girls” received mixed reviews due to some audiences being confused by the musical elements, while others were confused by the lack of emphasis put on its theatrical roots. The unclear positioning led musical fans to feel undervalued and other viewers to question why the movie was so different from the trailers and social media content.</p><p>“Wicked”, on the other hand, received rave reviews and record numbers at the box office. Through staying true to the pre-existing fan base and story, while also expanding into new audiences and adding, not cutting, content, the film built excitement and anticipation from early on in its PR campaign.</p><h3>PR Lessons and Takeaways</h3><ol><li>Know both your source material and core fanbase</li><li>Don’t dilute the material or the message</li><li>Lean into your unique genre hooks (in this case, music and spectacle)</li><li>Viral campaigns need substance and storytelling to mean anything in the long run</li><li>Be intentional about how trailers, cast appearances, and legacy tie-ins will shape the audience’s expectations</li><li><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: calc(18px * var(--body-fontSize, 1)); font-style: var(--body-fontStyle, normal);" data-mce-style="font-family: inherit; font-size: calc(18px * var(--body-fontSize, 1)); font-style: var(--body-fontStyle, normal);">Being a trending topic does not mean you have been authentic and clear</span></li></ol><h3>Final Thoughts</h3><p style="">The PR strategy and overwhelming success of “Wicked” showed that honoring your origins pays off, while “Mean Girls” showed what can happen if you don’t fully commit to telling your story clearly and authentically. It’s important to embrace, not erase, the magic that makes theatre so special. When promoting a musical, make the music a feature, not a footnote.</p><p>‍</p><p><em>Written for the Devine+Partners "Rising Stars" series. Rising Stars is a series of thoughts, reflections and perspectives by the interns at Devine + Partners. Devine + Partners is a Philadelphia public relations agency. They offer a full range of communications services – from message and content development and media relations to issues management and employee and community engagement.</em></p>

Blog

Temple Students’ Guide to Student Discounts in Philly

“Why Getting Involved Matters: The Impact of Student Acti...

How Elmo and friends have remained relevant across genera...

What “Mean Girls” and “Wicked” Teach Us About Marketing M...