Rochester Christian University Unveils "The Click" Digital Marketing Lab

New state-of-the-art facility presented by Chief Financial Credit Union

Published on Feb. 23, 2026

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Rochester Christian University has unveiled its new digital marketing lab, named "The Click", presented by Chief Financial Credit Union. The winning name was submitted by senior management major Sydney Hawks through a campus-wide student competition. The lab is designed to mirror a modern marketing agency environment, giving students hands-on experience with the latest tools and workflows.

Why it matters

The Click lab represents an investment by Rochester Christian University in providing students with a professional-grade environment to develop the skills and confidence needed to thrive in the digital marketing field after graduation. The partnership with Chief Financial Credit Union also reinforces the university's commitment to community engagement and empowerment.

The details

The Click lab will be integrated across multiple courses in RCU's digital marketing program, giving students experience from their first semester through advanced coursework in areas like SEO/SEM, content creation, email automation, and market research. The lab is designed to mirror the collaborative, fast-paced environment of a modern marketing agency, with students using the same tools and workflows found in today's agencies and in-house marketing departments.

  • The Click lab was unveiled on February 23, 2026.
  • Sydney Hawks, the senior management major who submitted the winning name, was awarded a $1,000 financial aid award.

The players

Sydney Hawks

A senior management major from Sterling Heights, Michigan, who submitted the winning name "The Click" through a campus-wide student competition.

Chief Financial Credit Union

The presenting sponsor of The Click lab, reinforcing its partnership with Rochester Christian University and shared values of community investment and empowerment.

Kendra Corman

Chair of the Department of Management and Marketing at Rochester Christian University, who stated that The Click is an investment in giving students a professional-grade environment to develop the skills and confidence needed to thrive after graduation.

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What they’re saying

“In digital marketing, a click represents the moment when creativity, strategy and data lead to action. The name fits the lab's hands-on purpose, where students create, test and analyze real digital campaigns, making The Click both relevant to the discipline and approachable as a student-centered space.”

— Sydney Hawks, Winning senior, Sterling Heights (businessinsider.com)

“Rochester Christian University is growing something special in the School of Business and Technology. The Click is an investment not just in equipment or space, but in giving students a professional-grade environment where they can develop the confidence and competence to thrive after graduation.”

— Kendra Corman, Chair of the Department of Management and Marketing (businessinsider.com)

What’s next

The Click lab will be integrated across multiple courses in RCU's digital marketing program, giving students hands-on experience from their first semester through advanced coursework.

The takeaway

The Click lab represents Rochester Christian University's commitment to providing students with a state-of-the-art, professional-grade environment to develop the skills and confidence needed to succeed in the digital marketing field. The partnership with Chief Financial Credit Union further reinforces the university's focus on community engagement and empowerment.