Public relations students earn national recognition at conference
Six members of the Waynesburg University Public Relations Student Society of America [WUPRSSA] chapter recently spent five days and four nights at National Conference in Indianapolis, Indiana.
The six students who attended the event include Maura Fenske, a junior public relations major, journalism minor and WUPRSSA chapter president; Cassidy Graham, a senior public relations and digital design major, marketing minor and WUPRSSA chapter vice-president and firm director; Zachary Sniadach, a senior public relations major and WUPRSSA treasurer; Natalie Gloady, a senior public relations major and public relations director of WUPRSSA; Taylor White, a senior public relations major, journalism minor and WUPRSSA special events coordinator and Amanda Troncone, a sophomore public relations major and professional development coordinator of WUPRSSA.
The event, which kicked off Oct. 21 and concluded Oct. 25, provided attendees with an opportunity to network with professionals, learn and develop their professional skills.
Alongside the six students was Richard Krause, chairperson for the Department of Communication and faculty advisor of the WUPRSSA chapter.
According to Krause, Waynesburg has been present at National Conference all but one year since becoming an official PRSSA chapter in 2010.
”We are required to have at least some kind of representation at National Conference,” said Krause. “This is where you firmly establish yourself – at Conference. It’s absolutely critical that we be there every year and in good numbers, because the students gain so much from it and at the same time it’s a great promotional opportunity for Waynesburg University.”
The WUPRSSA attendees left Indianapolis with more than some new professional contacts and knowledge of the latest trends in public relations – for the fourth consecutive year, the WUPRSSA chapter earned a Star Chapter Award.
Receiving star chapter status was very exciting and rewarding as the current chapter president, Fenske said. This was her second time attending National Conference.
There are a number of requirements that must be met by the chapter in order to qualify for the award.
A few of these requirements include the completion of at least one community service project, focusing at least one chapter meeting on ethics and confirming that at least ten percent of graduating seniors applied for membership with PRSSA’s parent chapter, PRSA.
”We’re definitely motivated to apply for more awards,” said Fenske. “We have on our radar that we want to apply for at least four or five for next year and it just gives us a goal to work towards.”
The opportunity to apply for PRSSA awards does not cease for chapter members after graduating. The National Gold Key Award, created in 1983, is the highest individual honor bestowed upon PRSSA members, and seniors may apply for it up to one year following graduation. It recognizes outstanding academic excellence in public relations and leadership in PRSSA.
Jordan Mitrik, a 2016 graduate, accompanied WUPRSSA to attend his fourth National Conference. This year, though, was his first time attending as a Waynesburg University alumnus. In Indianapolis, Mitrik was awarded the PRSSA 2016 National Gold Key Award.
”Winning this award from PRSSA means so much more than getting the opportunity to hang a plaque with a gold key on my wall or include it on my resume,” said Mitrik. “It’s a reminder of the hard work and dedication I put in during the four years as a public relations student and member of Waynesburg University PRSSA.”
Mitrik is only the second WUPRSSA student to receive the award after fellow graduate Megan Bayles won the award the previous year.
Waynesburg University has been a huge help in his successes as both a public relations student and professional, Mitrik said.
”Waynesburg University helped instill in me the value of having a strong work ethic,” he said. “This award was something I hoped to one day receive, and I believe the awards I have won in years past and now the Gold Key Award are a reflection of the work ethic I developed while at Waynesburg.”
The recent successes of WUPRSSA are very exciting, said Fenske, though the chapter has a long list of goals in front of them set by Krause and herself.
”We’ve achieved a lot of the initial goals that were set forth for the chapter much more quickly than what we anticipated,” said Krause. “The next two goals now are to get someone on National Committee and to have the students present at National Conference.”