Ra'Dricka Ford, advertising junior, stands inside Gaylord College. Ford was given an award by the Management Leaders of Tomorrow that will send her to work on Wall Street. Saul Martinez/The Daily

An OU student is temporarily trading in Lindsey Street for Wall Street after nabbing a spot in a prestigious career program.

Advertising junior Ra’Dricka Ford said she leaves Friday for New York City to take part in the first conference of Management Leadership for Tomorrow’s Career Advancement Program, which ultimately could land Ford her dream job at beauty giant L’Oréal.

Management Leadership for Tomorrow is an organization that helps talented minority students find top-tier jobs and internships at corporations, nonprofit organizations and entrepreneurial ventures, according to organization’s Web site, www.ml4t.org.

Nearly 1,000 selected students will meet periodically in New York City during 2008 and 2009 to learn business skills and meet professionals in their prospective fields.

“I’m very excited that a young lady of her caliber is being recognized,” said Chris Howard, vice president of the Joe C. and Carole Kerr McClendon Honors College. “For her to be recognized reflects that OU is outstanding in putting out outstanding graduates.”

As the only student selected from an Oklahoma university, Ford said she looks forward to joining the elite group. She said the program will be a good networking experience.

“[This program] will definitely teach me how to market myself,” Ford said. “I’ve already met so many people and I’ll just continue to build my database of people.”

As a requirement for the program, students must create a resume for critique by their professional coaches. In October, each member must write an autobiographical essay for the program, and each member is expected to research each company attending the program’s conference in New York City.

“The event in New York City will be our kick-off event for the 2009 Career/Prep Program and we expect about 900 students to attend,” program coordinator Jason Bailey said. “The conference is designed to tell the students about the expectations of the program and basically to set the tone.”

Ford said that after the rigorous year-long program, about 90 percent of students who finish the program actually get a job in one of the companies that will be represented at the Management Leadership for Tomorrow convention.

The organization hosts events year-round. Each event usually lasts for a weekend or a few days.

Ford said that she plans to pursue a career in brand management or to join an advertising organization and do research.

“I would definitely encourage any minority student who’s a sophomore to go ahead and apply,” Ford said.

Application deadlines are Sept. 30 and Nov. 15, according to the Web site.

“Other Sooners should be excited that a track has been blazed and that they can do it as well,” Howard said.