Moeller opens NASDAQ with bell
It isn’t every day that a hometown girl gets the opportunity to see her face projected above Times Square, but on June 10 Illinois Valley Central graduate Kelly Moeller experienced just that.
As part of Internet Week New York 2010, Kelly Moeller, Class of 1998, was chosen by her company to participate in the ringing of the NASDAQ bell as an honored guest.
“Let’s just say that it’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience — very exciting,” Moeller said.
“The highlight was being escorted through Times Square outside to the front of the building so we could take group pictures and see our photos broadcast on the building for all of Times Square to see.”
Moeller, an interactive agent for Aquent, a placement firm for marketing and creative professionals, was in New York June 7 to 14 for Internet Week and the Webby Awards.
Internet Week NY, initiated in 2008, is a weeklong affair of more than 150 events, ranging from news conferences to discussion panels which celebrate and promote the importance of the Internet and technology in New York’s industries. Moeller’s blog is the featured blog for career advice for the Webby Awards.
“While in New York, my company was given the opportunity to send two representatives to the ringing of the NASDAQ bell as Internet Week was the honored guest. I was chosen and had the opportunity to attend the ceremony in Times Square, be a part of the ringing of the bell, and got the opportunity to meet the COO of the Mayor’s office, the Chairman of Internet Week, and overall — had a fantastic time,” Moeller said.
Moeller’s mother, Cheryl Farwell, couldn’t be prouder.
“Kelly is a remarkable young woman who strives to be the best at what she does. The payoff was a spot onstage for the opening bell of NASDAQ and her picture on the side of a huge building in Times Square. Quite wonderful accomplishments for one so young,” Farwell said.
Having raised her children as a single parent, Farwell said encouraging her children in their education was a high priority for her, and today three of her children have their master’s degrees and another daughter is still in college.
“In today’s world, you hear a lot of excuses from kids about why they can’t succeed. Often times they will say, ‘I am from a broken family or single parent family’ so there is no way I could get ahead in this world. I feel that parents need to become more involved in the education process during the formative years as well as later in life. No excuses,” Farwell said.
