Local chapter gives students a leg up

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The PRSSA club helps public relations students succeed

Boasting a top ten national ranking and the prestigious Star Chapter award, UVU’s PRSSA chapter has a lot to offer students. PRSSA, or the Public Relations Student Society of America, is the nation’s largest PR organization.

UVU’s chapter provides hands-on experience for students interested in the field of PR. Students can join this club to enhance their education, find job opportunities, create national prestige on their resumes, broaden their networks and learn the latest tactics being used in the industry by top professionals.

Vanessa Perkins a PRSSA member said “I’ve grown so much as a PR student this past year, and I would have never had the opportunity to do so without such an amazing organization.”

PRSSA is made up of 10,000 students and advisers from across the United States. Just over a year ago UVU’s chapter was organized, and currently this chapter has 90 members.

Recently two positions have been filled in the club’s presidency. Jeremy Wright is currently the VP of Public Relations and Marshall Sanders is the Vice President of the organization.

Within the last few months this chapter has been placed in the top 10 for the nation by the Bateman Case Study Competition, when they attended the national conference in Washington, DC, and received the prestigious Star Chapter award, which was only given to seven other universities across the nation.

All was made possible by the support of the university, the communications department, communication advisors, the PRSSA presidency and public relations students.

Angela Pickering, PRSSA Club President said, “PRSSA is a great opportunity for students to network with PR professionals, make career contacts, learn about the latest trends in the industry and have fun while learning with other public relations students.”

Each month PRSSA holds an event to get students involved and learn more about the world of public relations. At their latest event Cheryl Snapp Conner, founder and managing partner of Snapp Conner PR, talked about her experience in the public relations industry.

Conner talked about the importance of public relations during a down economy. She also said that public relations drives business outcome. Conner’s PR business has done work for Spoon Me, Fishbowl, ProPay and Big-D Construction.