The Elon University chapter of the Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) was presented with five national awards at the 2007 PRSSA National Conference in Philadelphia on Oct. 23, making it one of the three most decorated groups attending the event.
Award recipients were as follows:
Elon University PRSSA Chapter: 2007 Outstanding Regional Activity (which focused on crisis communications)
Bobby Hoppey (Elon junior) and Carolyn Fiala (2007 alumna): National President’s Citations for their service to PRSSA at both the chapter and national levels
Kristin Tremoulis (2007 alumna): Gold Key Award for displaying outstanding academic excellence and leadership in PRSSA
Brigid McCauley, Julia McIlrevey, Kristen Tremoulis and Elizabeth VanDerwerker (all 2007 alumni): 3rd place finish in the Bateman National Case Study Competition
Bobby Hoppey, Caroline Matthews, Laurie Montanus, Craig Orsi and Jackie Reynolds-Drumm: Presidential Service Awards for presenting at a development session to an audience of more than 200 at the 2007 conference.
“Elon’s outstanding showing in Philadelphia is a testament to how committed our members are to this organization,” said Hoppey, the chapter president. “Our chapter is doing big things and people are certainly taking notice.”
The 2007 Outstanding Regional Activity award was given in recognition of Elon’s hosting of a crisis communications event in February 2007. The school’s PRSSA chapter was chosen out of 13 that hosted such events throughout the nation. Elon will host another regional activity in 2008.
“Our students put in more than a year’s worth of planning to present a nationally recognized regional activity,” said Jessica Giscliar, the PRSSA adviser for 2007 and associate professor in the Elon University School of Communications. “I am very proud of the students’ achievement. I know how much they put into this project and their work is worthy of this national recognition.”
Regarding Elon’s 3rd place finish in the Bateman National Case Study Competition, associate professor and team faculty advisor John Guiniven said, “They used their own ideas. I did nothing, which is even better. Their recognition is something that is both a compliment to them and our PRSSA chapter itself.”
Bateman participants were tasked with creating and implementing a PR campaign for a real-world client — the National Family Caregivers Association.
PRSSA, one of the nation’s largest pre-professional organizations, aims to provide networking, educational and professional development opportunities to future practitioners. Celebrating 40 years, the organization includes 9,600 members and 285 Chapters at colleges and universities in 43 states and the District of Columbia.
Visit www.prssa.org for general information on the organization. Elon’s PRSSA chapter, established in 2003, is one of the largest in the country with more than 120 members.