Media contact: Shannon Thomason
PRCA/PRSSA at UAB members with their advisor, Jacque Shaia, PhD., and instructor, Philip Poole.The University of Alabama at Birmingham chapter of the Public Relations Council of Alabama/Public Relations Student Society of America won four awards from the Alabama Public Relations Society of America.
The UAB chapter received the Chapter Campaign, Chapter Diversity, Chapter Website and Community Service awards. This marks the first time the UAB chapter has been recognized for its website, chapter diversity and community service.
“The students in this program work extremely hard in order to acquire and perfect the skills they need to successfully practice in this field,” said Jacquelyn S. Shaia, J.D., Ph.D., faculty adviser and director of the Public Relations Program in the College of Arts and Sciences’ Department of Communication Studies. “These awards recognize and celebrate that hard work, focus, commitment, and desire to make a difference in the field and in our community.”
The Chapter Campaign and Community Service awards recognize comprehensive, strategic campaigns with tactics backed by research and results. Members of the chapter also represented and implemented these campaigns for local nonprofit organizations in the Birmingham area: Cornerstone Ranch, Fellowship House Inc., Magic City Poetry Festival, Quest Kids Club and Family Center, Magic City Poetry Festival, South City Theatre and Vinegar. The Chapter Diversity award is given to student chapters dedicated to embracing a diverse pool of membership and making an active effort to include people of all backgrounds. The Chapter Website award honors creativity, design, content and overall appearance of the website. The Community Service award recognizes the work performed and time and talent invested by students to benefit their overall community.
The submission efforts were led by board members of the organization: Dylan Baggiano, Kenia Hernandez, Keona Jenkins and Ann Marie Stephens.
In addition, Sam Adams, a junior in the program, received the PR Strategist award, which recognizes excellence in the ability to write and develop public relations communications.
Sam Adams, Alabama PRSA's PR Strategist with his advisor and instructor. “I am absolutely honored to receive this recognition by public relations professionals in Alabama,” Adams said. “This is a big achievement for me, and I am beyond grateful that I am a part of a program that supports my growth as a writer, professional and leader.”
PRSA and PRSSA are made up of nearly 30,000 professionals and students who are organized into more than 300 chapters in the United States.
These prestigious awards were extremely competitive: The UAB chapter competed with all universities statewide for these awards. Judges for these awards were longtime practicing professionals and members of Alabama PRSA.
“I am most proud of each of the students in this chapter,” Shaia said. “Public relations requires individuals to excel in strategic thinking, communication and writing skills to be able to build relationships that benefit not only the client but our community as well. I am particularly proud of the efforts and contributions each of these students has made in ensuring this chapter embraces and welcomes a diverse membership and climate for everyone. Without question, the students in this organization have already made a positive difference in representing these nonprofit organizations and will continue to do so after they graduate.”