PRSSA students gain real-world experience

PRSSA members promoted and staffed the "American As Apple Pie" baking contest. The contest was part of the Constitution Day events on campus.

As part of The American Democracy Project, the event sought to create an understanding of civic engagement for undergraduate students.

There were three competitions‹poster/essay, the "American as Apple Pie" baking contest and the Best Patriotic Dress contest.

PRSSA members helped staff the events and gave out pieces of the pies after the contest was over. Robin Thweatt of PRSSA won the first-place prize of $100 for the best apple pie.

In October chapter adviser Robin Orvino took 11 members to Chicago on a public relations field trip.

Students went to the governor's office and met with several members of the staff, including the state of Illinois marketing director.

Next on the agenda was a meeting with the communications manager of the Chicago Tribune. The following day (Oct. 5) students met with staff members of the Edelman Public Relations Agency. One of the speakers was in charge of the internship program and gave the students handouts describing internships at the Tribune.

Nov. 8-9 found eight members in Louisville for the annual PRSA Pro-Am Day. On the first day the students were assigned to PRSA members and spent the day with their hosts at work.

The second day was the annual fall workshop, which featured speakers from the Bluegrass chapter of PRSA.

Students attended sessions on "Forecasting the Future of PR and the Internet," "Protecting your work through copyright and trademarks," "Healthcare PR," "Government/Politics PR," Sports Public Relations," "Agency PR" and "Branding Your Image."

The final session of the day was "Lessons Learned as a PR volunteer for the American Red Cross following Hurricane Katrina" with Marilyn Shank of Shank Public Relations.