Students in the University of Alabama at Birmingham’s Public Relations Council of Alabama/Public Relations Student Society of America have won top awards from two professional organizations in Alabama.

The Public Relations Society of America’s Alabama chapter has recognized PRCA/PRSSA at UAB with the Outstanding Chapter Award. This is the third time UAB has received Outstanding Chapter, the top award for students, since it was established in 2020. The winning chapter is ineligible to receive the award the year after it has been awarded.

PRCA/PRSSA at UAB won the Chapter Campaign Award, recognizing students’ work in designing and delivering public relations campaigns for three local nonprofit organizations in the community: Holy Family Cristo Rey Catholic High School, Mission 34 and Special Equestrians. The chapter was honored with PRSA Alabama’s Community Service and Chapter Website awards.  

PRSA grants only two awards to individual students, and UAB’s Katherine Kirk of Montgomery, Alabama, received the PRSA WordSmith Award. The award recognizes Kirk’s accomplishments in writing and public relations strategy. 

These awards recognize the students’ commitment to excellence, leadership and the ethical practice of public relations, says Jacquelyn S. Shaia, J.D., Ph.D., professor and director of the program.  

The Public Relations Council of Alabama named PRCA/PRSSA at UAB Chapter of the Year for 2024. This marks the ninth year in a row UAB has won the award, competing against all other universities in Alabama. In addition, UAB students won nine Medallion awards, the highest award granted by PRCA; 10 Awards of Excellence; and 17 Awards of Merit. 

In addition to the 36 awards made to individuals, students won three group awards, recognizing their campaigns for Holy Family Cristo Rey Catholic High School, Mission 34 and Special Equestrians.  

UAB student Madeha Javed of Pelham, Alabama, won the individual award for Judge’s Choice. Javed and Kirk, along with Jenna Mekdad and Angel Pine, both of Birmingham, won the group award for Judge’s Choice for their public relations firm campaign for Holy Family Cristo Rey Catholic High School.

Javed won Best of Show, showcasing her remarkable talent in the field of public relations and social media for the chapter. This marks the first time UAB has won Best of Show. Brylee Smith of Jasper, Alabama, won second place for Student of the Year. Javed, Kirk, Mekdad, Pine and Smith will graduate Saturday, May 3, during UAB’s spring commencement.

All submissions were judged by independent, practicing public relations professionals outside of Alabama who found their work to be worthy of these awards. Recognition at this scale — 39 individual student awards, three group awards, both individual and group Judge’s Choice awards, WordSmith award, and Best in Show — is unprecedented, Shaia says.

“The field is robust, and students are not having trouble finding well-paying jobs,” Shaia said. “I am confident each will enter the workforce and practice their careers with the ethics, leadership and public relations skills they will need to succeed. Their education from UAB will allow each of them to succeed while giving back to their community, making our world a better place.”

The PRCA/PRSSA at UAB chapter is a registered student organization and an extension of the academic public relations program in the College of Arts and Sciences’ Department of Communication Studies. Students are provided with professional development and networking opportunities, including membership in both PRCA and PRSSA. Read more about the success of students in this UAB program.