PRSSA – Harrison Connect

February 15, 2017woocw No Comments

Building History: JMU’s First Bateman Teams

When JMU students go head-to-head in a national competition, two things happen: great work and great experience.

Before the judges even look at the entries, this makes the prestigious Bateman Case Study Competition a win-win for the JMU Chapter of Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) members.

The Bateman competition is an annual, nationwide campaign that began in 2011. They ask teams of four or five students to create full public relations campaigns through research, strategy development, implementation, and evaluation.

And for the first time in program history, SCOM students are competing. Because one team would be too predictable, two teams from PRSSA are entered in the 2016-2017 competition.

The top three teams receive monetary prizes, and get to pitch their idea in-person to the judges.

The winner’s campaign becomes the inspiration for a real-life campaign by Bateman competition. It’s an incredible opportunity, and not one to be taken lightly.

The competition begins today. Read more Building History: JMU’s First Bateman Teams

March 6, 2015woocw No Comments

February Recap: SCOM Reaches New Heights

Along with numerous inches of snow, the SCOM department has seen major accomplishments for the month of February.

On February 10^th students and faculty attended the Love Talk Film Festival, where scholars and long-term couples shared their expertise on love and relationships. In addition seven mini-documentaries, produced by students in Jennie Rosier’s (fall 2014) SCOM 314: Communication in Romantic Relationships class, were screened. The top three filmmakers received awards for their hard work.

FIRST PLACE:

Filmmaker Name: Jessica Hunt

Film Title: Love Me Not: Why You Stay When You Should Go

SECOND PLACE:

Filmmaker Name: Alyssa Herington

Film Title: “I Love You (maybe)”

THIRD PLACE:

Filmmaker Name: Nicole Lamberta

Film Title: Smooth Sails Ahead!

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On February 13, Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) visited Washington D.C. to attend business briefings with PR agencies: Adfero Group, Burson-Marsteller, Edleman, Fleishman Hillard, and Golin. JMU will continue their professional development efforts with a visit to New York City in March.

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Dr. Fife’s essay was featured on the COE’s story project, “What Sustains Me.” He is the only CAL faculty member included in this project!

The College of Education’s “What Sustains Me” Project is a series of personal essays and/or artistic contributions about the heart of teachers and teaching. JMU College of Education faculty, faculty from other areas of the University, and teachers from surrounding area pre-K through 12th grade schools share their stories for the purpose of better understanding each other as educators and our potential as a community.

James Madison University – Eric Fife essay

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Dr. Lori Britt received JMU’s Goodman Faculty Award! This prestigious award is designed to recognize an exceptional junior faculty member for “excellence in teaching, and especially faculty who integrate their teaching and scholarship to benefit our student and the learning process.” Please share the good news.

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On the weekend of February 27^th, the JMU Speech team completed the last of their regular season travel on the Alexandria campus of Northern Virginia Community College. With eleven teams representing the eastern area of the US, the JMU team finished as the Top Team both days of competition. Qualification for the national tournament is a season long process and with the results from this last weekend every member of the JMU Speech Team qualified for the American Forensic Association-National Individual Events tournament to be held in Portland Oregon this April; this will be the largest squad JMU has qualified in its history.

Individual Results are as follows:

Olivia Adams, Freshman SCOM, 3rd After Dinner Speaking
Magdalene Dada, Sophomore Nursing, 5th Impromptu Speaking
Abby Fiege, Sophomore SCOM, 4th After Dinner Speaking
Nate Gross, Freshman Undeclared, 2nd Impromptu Speaking, 4th Persuasive Speaking
Armin Haracic, Sophomore International Affairs, 3rd Extemporaneous Speaking
Ally Hepburn, Freshman Undeclared, 1st Informative Speaking
Ty Kemp, Freshman SCOM, 6th Dramatic Interpretation, 2nd Informative Speaking
Haley Lawrie, Sophomore Spanish, 5th Extemporaneous Speaking, 3rd Informative Speaking
Nathan Selove, Sophomore SCOM 2nd Dramatic Interpretation, 4th Informative Speaking, 4th Prose Interpretation
Marieka Turner, Senior SCOM, 3rd Poetry Interpretation
Greta Wolking, Freshman Undeclared, 3rd Persuasive Speaking

1ST PLACE OVERALL TEAM

Day Two Results:

Olivia Adams, Freshman SCOM, 1st After Dinner Speaking
Jessie Bur, Senior SMAD/English, 3rd Poetry Interpretation
Magdalene Dada, Sophomore Nursing, 4th Impromptu
Abby Fiege, Sophomore SCOM, 2nd After Dinner Speaking, 2nd Duo Interpretation, 4th Prose Interpretation
Nate Gross, Freshman Undeclared, 2nd Impromptu Speaking, 4th Persuasive Speaking
Armin Haracic, Sophomore International Affairs, 4th Extemporaneous Speaking
Ally Hepburn, Freshman Undeclared, 6th Dramatic Interpretation, 4th Informative Speaking, 5th Prose Interpretation
Ty Kemp, Freshman SCOM, 3rd Dramatic Interpretation, 2nd Duo Interpretation
Haley Lawrie, Sophomore Spanish, 3rd Extemporaneous Speaking
Nathan Selove, Sophomore SCOM, 4th Dramatic Interpretation, 2nd Informative Speaking, 3rd Prose Interpretation
Greta Wolking, Freshman Undeclared, 3rd Persuasive Speaking, 6th Prose Interpretation

OVERALL TOP TEAM

The team is coached by graduate students Nicole Hudak and Katie Lese, as well as Alyssa Reid and Lee Mayfield.

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REMINDERS:

SCOM Banquet tickets now available!

Below are the dates/times/locations of ticket sales this week:

Monday 3/2: Harrison Conference room 1131 from 11-2pm
Tuesday 3/3: Harrison Conference room 1131 from 10:45-1:45pm
Wednesday 3/4: Harrison 1^st floor hallway from 11-2pm

*Tickets $13, cash and check accepted.

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ALL GRADUATING SENIORS (FULLY ADMITTED MAJORS):

You must take SCOM 394 prior to graduation. Some of you may already have taken the class, and in that case you don’t need to worry about it – but if not, make sure you’re registered for the course by the time it “starts” on March 16. The course consists solely of a set of assessment tests that you must take, with no specific score required, by the deadline (typically mid-April).

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Don’t forget, you can always prepare for your future by visiting the Career and Academic Planning Center. They can help you venture down the right road with advice on majors, internships, resumes, jobs, and more.

November 9, 2014woocw No Comments

Intersections: The Meeting Place of Communications and Culture

For five days, our nation’s capital buzzed with over 2,000 professionals and students from across the nation to discuss a shared passion. Each of these individuals came to D.C with hopes to make connections and discuss the profession that drew them together- public relations. On Oct. 10-14, the Public Relations Student Society of America held their annual national conference and allowed professionals and pre-professionals to coalesce and share their zeal for public relations. Read more Intersections: The Meeting Place of Communications and Culture

April 17, 2014woocw No Comments

Be Involved with SCOM: A Two-Part Series on the Department’s Student Organizations

Part 1: IABC and PRSSA

The following snapshots of the IABC and PRSSA are the result of short interviews with the hardworking presidents of these organizations. Kerry and Ryan both strive to do what is best for their respective organizations and would love to follow up with anyone that is interested in joining.

Their contact information has been included below so feel free to shoot them an email for more information.

Kerry Mclendon: (IABC)

Email: mclendkg@dukes.jmu.edu

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/pub/kerry-mclendon/7b/714/b6

Ryan Thomas: (PRSSA)

Email: thomasrj@dukes.jmu.edu

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanthomas425

International Association of Buisness Communicators (IABC)

What’s it all about?

December 3, 2012woocw No Comments

[Blog Post] PRSSA National Conference

From October 12-16, 2012, five members from James Madison University’s Public Relations Student Society of America, including myself, headed to San Francisco, California to enhance their professional development and network with public relations professionals at the PRSSA National Conference. Speakers came from all over the country hosting professional sessions on various PR related topics such as pitching, media training, sports PR and the importance of social media.

JMU PRSSA’s professional development coordinator, Angela Scibilia, said that the conference was a “really unique opportunity to meet and network with students from all over the country and exchange ideas to improve our organization and our careers in public relations.”

Students also had the opportunity to meet and network with many agencies around the country while representing their chapter and university. “I absolutely loved the atmosphere in San Francisco. We had the opportunity to make great networking connections with both students and professionals in the field,” says Melissa Peale, Secretary of JMU PRSSA.

The SCOM has six organizations to help enhance your education and kickstart your career. Joining one of these organizations allows students to become involved in leadership positions and help build your pre-professional career.

What are some other benefits of joining pre-professional organizations? Share your comments below.

November 12, 2012woocw No Comments

[OP-ED] Why PRSSA is for You: An Opinion Editorial on the Benefits of PRSSA

With over 350 student organizations at James Madison University, there are many opportunities to become an involved student in the JMU community. The JMU School of Communication Studies has six student organizations that allow SCOM students to be involved with the university and community as well as build professional relationships. One of the organizations is the Public Relations Student Society of America. PRSSA is a pre-professional organization focused on enhancing students’ education, broadening their network, and launching their career in public relations. It is made up of over 10,000 students and advisors organized into about 300 chapters spread throughout the country with one chapter in Argentina. JMU has its own chapter, which is currently in its fifth year.

JMU PRSSA believes in expanding the horizons of members by educating them through workshops designed to enrich their understanding of public relations related topics and agency visits where they can practice their skills and network with professionals. “Being in PRSSA has built my confidence level more than I ever could have imagined,” says Carolyn Chastka, senior PRSSA member.

PRSSA members have access to many benefits that lend them opportunities to advance their careers. First of all, according to the PRSSA website, members have access to the PRSA Jobcenter, which allows them to browse career resources and public relations employment opportunities. Internship opportunities are also posted on the PRSSA Internship Center, which allows members to post résumés and get career tips. “PRSSA opens so many doors. Even if you don’t go to meetings or have the opportunity to reap all the benefits, the job center alone will more than pay for dues,” says Cassie Lenski, president of JMU PRSSA.

Being involved in an organization can broaden students’ knowledge and interests and reiterate the importance of being an active member in the community. In a thesis written by Laura Andrews, Master of Arts communication student at Kent State University, about whether or not undergraduates should join PRSSA, she found that “members were more confident in their skills of PR tactics, starting a job, and found more importance in participating in student organizations.” Non-members had to rely on only the skills they learned in the classroom and previous work experience. Andrews also found that “PRSSA members placed more importance on gaining employment and showed more passion as they progressed through the stages of employment.”

Students who are a part of organizations are exposed, not only to what other members have to offer, but what benefits organizations have as a whole. PRSSA members have the opportunity to visit agencies that work in different industries, see what the public relations industry has to offer, and learn what it is like to work as a public relations professional. JMU PRSSA has taken trips to New York City and Washington D.C. throughout the years visiting many world-renowned agencies such as Burson- Marsteller, Edelman, Fleishman Hillard, and Ketchum networking with professionals and experiencing agency life. “Getting the hands-on experience of networking while at various firms allows me to constantly practice my networking abilities and really gives me a leg up in interviews when I’m on my own,” Chastka adds.

PRSSA chapters set up their own agency visits and trips, but members also have the opportunity to travel to different conferences and events hosted by PRSSA throughout the year. Five students from JMU’s PRSSA recently traveled to San Francisco for the PRSSA National Conference. “My favorite moment with PRSSA was hands down the trip to San Francisco. Every moment of that conference was invigorating and exciting. There was constantly new and fascinating information to pull from incredible people. The relationships I built within my own chapter, as well as with other members, are relationships I will cherish forever,” says Chastka.

Many organizations, especially if one is involved in leadership positions, require a decent amount of time commitment An InternQueen article titled, Pro and Cons of Getting Involved, said that the cons of being involved in an organization is that “you become extremely busy, have less social time, and time management becomes hard.” However, if students can find that balance between extracurricular activities and school, organizations such as PRSSA can be greatly beneficial. “Active PRSSA involvement signifies a personal and professional commitment to the profession. This commitment to excellence is a clear sign to employers that students care, have a desire to learn and are dedicated to contributing at the highest level possible,” says Don Egle, Professional Advisor for JMU PRSSA.

There are many benefits to joining PRSSA. Not only do students get to practice their PR skills by networking with professionals and agencies, members have access to many resources to help them with their professional careers. PRSSA is not limited to students concentrating in public relations but for anyone interested in learning about the field. “ I was looking for an organization that provided real hands-on experience and prepared me for the work force,” says Cortney Marchetto, marketing major and treasurer of JMU PRSSA. “PRSSA has given me the fundamental tools and skills that I was not able to learn in a classroom.”

Participating in student organizations can help SCOM students explore their interests, develop professional skills, and enhance their college experience. JMU PRSSA is just one of the organizations offered through SCOM and is a great opening into the world of public relations for students.