NEW YORK, NY (Sept. 6, 2017) — The PRSA Foundation, the leading nonprofit public relations organization focused on increasing diversity in the public relations field, and the Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) are proud to announce the recipients of their 2017 awards and scholarships. Each year, the Foundation awards more than $30,000 in scholarships to students and Chapters exhibiting outstanding merit in public relations and communications disciplines.

“This year’s group of scholarship honorees has demonstrated both exemplary academic accomplishment and a sincere commitment to the study and practice of public relations,” says Judith A. Harrison, PRSA Foundation President and Executive Eice President, Diversity and Inclusion, Weber Shandwick. ” Our honorees allow us to realize the mission of the Foundation — to prepare young adults to enter the public relations profession and  to create workplace-based inclusion efforts to welcome, support and retain a diverse workforce. We have high hopes for each of them. We also commend all of the high-achieving students who applied.”

Scholarships will be presented on Oct. 9 at the PRSSA Awards Ceremony and Dinner during the National Conference in Boston, Massachusetts.

This year’s recipients are:

Altschul Champions for PRSSA Outstanding Internship Award– Brian Hammel, Otterbein University

Axia Public Relations Scholarship– Kyle Schachner, Rowan University

Betsy Plank/PRSSA Scholarship– 1^st Place – Rachel Willis, Duquesne University; 2^nd Place – Alisa Ohara, Biola University; 3^rd Place – Lily Ng, The Ohio State University

Chester Burger Scholarship for Excellence in Public Relations – Janine Grey, University of Southern California

Gary Yoshimura Scholarship –Felicia Perez, University of Houston

John D. Graham Scholarship – 1^st Place – Rachel Willis, Duquesne University; Runners Up –Sydney Velez, Illinois State University, and Bethany Corne, University of Alabama

Marcia Silverman Minority Student Award – Anna Fobair, University of Nebraska-Lincoln

May C. Randazzo Memorial Scholarship– Britini D’Angelo, Niagara University

Neumeier Family Leadership Award –Rachel McLean, Boston University

Ofield Dukes Multicultural Student Award –  Sydney Rodgers, Southeast Missouri State University

PR Foundation of Houston Scholarship – Freshman/Sophomore – Alyssa Foley, University of Houston; Reagan Bisel, Trinity University

PR Foundation of Houston Scholarship – Junior/Senior – Teddi Cliett, Sam Houston State University

PR Foundation of Houston Scholarship – Graduate – Felicia Perez, University of Houston; Dorinda Carillo-Gamboa, Syracuse University; Wendy Pierce, University of Houston

PRSA Diversity Multicultural Scholarships – Alysta Lim, University of Southern California; Krystal Rhaburn, California Lutheran University

Robin M. Urbanski Memorial Scholarship – Alysta Lim, University of Southern California

Ron Culp Scholarship for Mentorship – Kaitlin Biersach, University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh

Stephen D. Pisinski Memorial Scholarship – Concetta Ciarlo, SUNY Fashion Institute of Technology

Support Our Students Scholarship – Ryan Wall, LaSalle University

Teahan National PRSSA Chapter Awards – will be presented on stage at the Awards Ceremony and Dinner.

 

About the PRSA Foundation

The PRSA Foundation is an independent 501 (c) (3) charitable organization that is committed to promoting diversity among public relations professionals and companies so that they can best serve the public good and address the needs of a diverse world. Headquartered in New York City, the PRSA Foundation was chartered under section 403 of the New York State Corporation Law as a not-for-profit organization.  The PRSA Foundation supports programs that attract, assist and prepare young adults to enter the public relations profession, and works with employers and industry organizations to create workplace-based inclusion efforts to welcome, support and retain a diverse workforce.   For more information about the PRSA Foundation’s programming efforts, visit www.prsafoundation.org.

 

About PRSSA

The Public Relations Student Society of America (www.prssa.org) is the foremost organization for students interested in public relations and communications. Founded in 1968 by its parent organization, the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA), PRSSA includes more than 10,000 student members and advisers, and is active at more than 350 colleges and universities.

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