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

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?

March 28, 2014woocw No Comments

Exciting month ahead for SCOM

April will be an eventful month for SCOM faculty and students. There are a lot of exciting events coming up!

SCOM Alumni Day
(Springboard into the Future)

There are only 2 weeks left until the big day! There will be panels in the morning, a lunch, and then a picnic with food, games, and an awards ceremony for SCOM students.

Weekly update: End of March, Start to Spring

SCOM students and faculty welcomes the new season with a couple of exciting news:

Alumni Day Event

February 28, 2014woocw No Comments

Eventful week for SCOM as February comes to an end

As we have less than 24 hours to say goodbye to February. SCOM students and faculty have spent their last couple weeks successfully.

Debate Team

The JMU Debate Team has qualified two teams to the National Debate Tournament (NDT) for the first time in 22 years, since 1992.

The NDT is a qualification-only tournament that selects only the top 78 teams in the country to participate.

(Banner of NDT, click picture for site)

February 25, 2014woocw No Comments

Is graduate school right for you? Tips from JMU SCOM Faculty members.

Students were encouraged to come to Graduate School Info Sessions hosted by Dr. Bsumeck, the SCOM graduate school, and the JMU PRSSA chapter this past week. Students and faculty were able to openly discuss some questions and concerns about graduate school. The JMU SCOM professors also advised students on how to apply and gave different tips for an easier transition into grad school.

(Left to Right – Dr. Britt, Dr. Carmack, Dr. Woo, Dr. Bsumeck and students during the session)

Some questions that were covered included:

February 14, 2014woocw No Comments

Snowy February, but SCOM Stays Engaged in the World

The month of February seems to fly by! A snow storm finally hit the city and it is all white around Harrison Hall. Yet, this snow storm could not stop people around SCOM from being actively involved with the world outside of the school.

Dr. Tim Ball was selected as one of only 24 faculty members from across the US named to the Student-Learning Outcomes in Communication Project sponsored by National Communication Association.

According to the NCA website, “NCA recently received a grant from the Lumina Foundation to conduct a faculty-driven student learning outcomes project for the Communication major…The goals of the project are to productively support curriculum planning and improvement within the Communication discipline, and to help position Communication centrally in institutions’ general education curriculum development efforts.”

Dr. Ball has been a faculty member at JMU since 1998. He has served as the GCOM Basic Course Director in the General Education Program since 2003. Congratulations, Dr. Ball!!

January 31, 2014woocw No Comments

End of January Weekly Update

Harrison Connect resumes its effort to connect people around Harrison Hall at JMU.

The School of Communication Studies has kicked off its Spring 2014 semester and it is already the end of January.

We are delighted to begin our SCOM weekly updates.

Here we go.

Harrison Connect: New Student with a directed project.

Karen Kim, senior student concentrating in PR, is now managing Harrison Connect as well as the JMUSCOM Twitter account. Please follow her posts during this semester. Please email her at: kim2jy@dukes.jmu.edu if you would like to share anything through our Twitter account as well as the Harrison Connect blog.

Undergraduate Research: Papers are accepted!!

Eight students will present at the Eastern Communication Association conference. Please click here for more information.

Alumni Award 2014: Please nominate outstanding alumni for this award.

The winner will receive up to $1,000 for travel and accommodations in order to receive their award on our annual alumni day, which will be held in 2014 (Time and date T.B.A)

Nomination packets must include: a cover letter, two letters of support, and a resume or curriculum vitae. All materials should be submitted to the Assistant Director of Communication Studies at the following address:

Alumni Award c/o Dr. Toni Whitfield, SCOM Assistant Director

54 Bluestone Drive, MSC 2106 Harrisonburg, VA 22807

OR submit the package electronically to: whitfits@jmu.edu

Speech Team: Off to a Good Start

The JMU Speech team traveled to Alexandria, VA to the campus of Northern Virginia Community College to compete in the Richard J. Ernst Speech Tournament. The tournament featured teams from across the Commonwealth as well as teams from New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. The individual results are as follows:

Day One:

Shelby Akins–7th Prose Interpretation
Jessie Bur–6th Poetry Interpretation, 4th Communication Analysis
Magdalene Dada–4th Poetry Interpretation
Tom Giordano–6th Extemporaneous Speaking
Armin Haracic–1st After Dinner Speaking
Zach Healy–1st Communication Analysis, 1st Duo Interpretation
Katie Lese–1st Duo Interpretation
Katrina Miles–4th Prose Interpretation
Nathan Selove–4th Persuasive Speaking, 5th Dramatic Interpretation

3rd Overall Team.

Day Two:

Shelby Akins–2nd After Dinner Speaking (now qualified for the American Forensic Association-National Individual Events Tournament to be held in April at Arizona State University)
Jessie Bur–5th Informative Speaking, 6th Communication Analysis
Magdalene Dada–4th Poetry Interpretation
Abby Fiege–6th After Dinner Speaking
Armin Haracic–5th After Dinner Speaking
Zach Healy–1st Communication Analysis, 4th Duo Interpretation
Katie Lese–4th Duo Interpretation, 2nd Persuasive Speaking
Katrina Miles–2nd Poetry Interpretation
Nathan Selove–1st Persuasive Speaking

Third Overall Team Sweeps

Every member on the JMU Speech team advanced to a final round this weekend; a well deserved honor for the hard working members. After a much needed weekend off, the team coached by Lee Mayfield and Alyssa Reid, will host the ‘Virginia is for Lovers’ Speech Tournament on our campus the weekend of February 8-9.

Debate Team: Madison Cup is coming SOON

This year’s Madison Cup is now set for the 14th annual “James Madison Commemorative Debate and Citizens Forum” on Thursday, April 17th, 2014.

The James Madison Commemorative Debate and Citizens Forum is a unique inter-collegiate debate competition, combining the excitement and challenge of a tournament competition with the participation and empowerment of a public audience.

The funding is supported by the Rupe Foundation, which will provide competition prize money for: the top ten teams and the top twelve debaters. Three teams will qualify for travel stipends.

2014 Topic: This house believes that warrantless electronic surveillance by the U.S. Government has done more harm than good.

Other cool and unique features include:

*$30,000.00 in prize money
*Debating and competing in front of a public audience
*No entry fees
*Continental breakfast, snacks and lunch provided
*Video web-cast of the final round
*Great PR for your debate program
*Madison Cup traveling trophy

Public Relations Student Society of America: Packed House

PRSSA JMU Chapter had its first meeting and an outstanding 102 students attended.

Their New York City agency visits are coming up in February.

The chapter will also elect its new leadership team members on Monday.

October 25, 2013woocw No Comments

The End of October

It has been quite the busy two weeks here in Harrison. Read on to see what has been going on. If you have anything else to add please comment below.

Speech Team

The JMU Speech Team continued their impressive competitive season this past weekend in Allentown, PA on the campus of Cedar Crest College. The team, including 4 first year competitors, finished in third place for the weekend against schools including; Cedar Crest College, Cornell University, Lafayette College, Liberty University, George Mason University, Saint Joseph’s University, Seton Hall University, West Chester University, and Wilkes University.

Individual results are as follows.

Day One

Shelby Akins, SR SCOM, 5th Informative Speaking, 5th After Dinner Speaking
Virginia Bonds, FR SCOM, 6th Program Oral Interpretation
Jessie Bur, Soph SMAD, 6th Poetry Interpretation
Abby Fiege, FR MATH, 4th After Dinner Speaking
Katie Lese, SR SCOM, 4th Dramatic Interpretation, 2nd Communication Analysis

Day Two

Shelby Akins, SR SCOM, 5th After Dinner Speaking
Virginia Bonds, FR SCOM, 5th Program Oral Interpretation, 2nd Novice Prose Interpretation
Jessie Bur, Soph SMAD, 1st Extemporaneous, 6th Impromptu Speaking
Abby Fiege, FR MATH, 3rd After Dinner Speaking
Katie Lese, SR SCOM, 2nd Dramatic Interpretation, 2nd Communication Analysis
Nathan Selove, FR THEA, 1st Prose Interpretation.

The team, coached by Lee Mayfield and Alyssa Reid, will have a weekend off before facing their largest competition of the semester in Peoria, IL on the campus of Bradley University.

IABC Meeting

Last week on Thursday, October 17th IABC held another meeting before their elections. If you have any questions please contact Dr. Janell Bauer (bauerjc@jmu.edu) or Dr. Heather Carmack (carmachj@jmu.edu) for more information.

We are all very excited to see what our newest organization accomplishes in their first year!

PRSSA

On Thursday, Oct. 10, @JMUPRSSA accepted an annual grant awarded by the Blue Ridge PRSA chapter.

On Friday, Oct. 11, @JMUPRSSA visited 8 PR firms and organizations to learn more about best practices, industry trends and future opportunities. They took a bus up Friday morning with more than 30 members, toured different agencies, then wrapped the day up with an alumni networking event.This was the first agency visit of the semester and PRSSA is planning for more agency trips in the Spring.

PRSSA 10 — PRSSA students with professionals at the Adfero and fleishman-Hillard.

SCOM professors were recognized

Dr. Corey Hickerson received a teaching and technology award and Dr. Brian Kaylor was nominated he State Council of Higher Education for Virginia’s prestigious Outstanding Faculty Awards with seven other JMU professors.

Congratulations!!

“El Pintor” with Dr. Carlos Aleman

The Latin Ballet of Virginia performed “El Pintor” (The Painter) at Harrisonburg High School
this past Wednesday, October 23rd. The event was co-sponsored by Dr. Carlos Alemán of the JMU Professors in Residence.

Upcoming

Homecoming Week

Next week officially starts Homecoming Week here at JMU. Students are excited for the Bleed Purple day next Monday. While, we are excited to see our SCOM Alumni! Check out the Homecoming Week Twitter or Facebook for updates. Also, keep checking with JMU SCOM, we may have something exciting planned for our alumni!

Alumni Award Nomination

The deadline to apply for the Alumni Award is February 15th, for all you amazing alumni you will not want to miss this deadline!

The award is given annually to an alum who manifests the following criteria:

a. Outstanding contributions to the discipline/profession

b. Outstanding service to the department, university, community, region, nation

c. SCOM major, minor, co-curricular and extracurricular programs alumni are eligible

You can nominate yourself, too!!

The award is presented at the year-end SCOM Celebration event in the Spring semester. More information on the award and the procedure/deadlines for submitting a nomination packet can be found by clicking on this link.

Don’t forget, our poll for the new SCOM Blog name is still going on! Vote on your favorite or make a suggestion!