UA Students Win Big in PRCA Competition

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Nine University of Alabama students recently received 26 awards from the Public Relations Council of Alabama Student Medallion Awards competition.

This is the highest number of awards for any school in this year’s competition, which recognizes excellence in public relations initiatives conducted by student members.

“It’s an honor for these students to be recognized by the state of Alabama’s largest and longest-running organization committed to excellence in the practice of public relations,” said Tracy Sims, faculty adviser for the UA PRCA chapter.

Entries were judged by current and former PRCA chapter of Montgomery board members. Winners were selected based on creativity and the use of the four-step communication process: research, planning, implementation and evaluation.

“To have nine of our students acknowledged in the PRCA Student Medallion Awards competition – earning 26 awards overall, seven of which are Medallions, the competition’s highest awards – is quite an accomplishment for them,” Sims said. “It affirms that they are acquiring the knowledge, skills and relevant experience that they need to be successful PR practitioners.”

The award-winning entries from public relations students in the UA College of Communication and Information Sciences covered a variety of topics, from nonprofit organizations to local business to national competition campaigns.

“This recognition of our students by professionals in their field, coupled with our recent designation by PRWeek as the top undergraduate PR program in the nation, makes me proud to be on The University of Alabama faculty and to serve as a faculty adviser to both our PRCA and PRSSA student chapters,” Sims added.

The University of Alabama PRCA Student Medallion Award winners are:

▪ Cara Cramer, from Dothan – two Awards of Excellence for Shelter from the Storm and “WWI romance helps student bring history to life”

▪ Louise C. Crow, from Mobile, and the UA APR 572 Class – Medallion Award for The Power of One: The 2009 Literacy is the Edge Campaign

▪ Dominique Gautier, from Fairhope, – two Medallion Award for Innisfree Irish Pub Promotional T-Shirt 1 and 2; three Awards of Excellence for Photography: “Have you seen my $5 bill?,” Photography: “The different faces of Internet self promotion” and Platform Article: “Applications excepted;” two Certificates of Merit for Platform Article: “Sport management’s MVP” and Innisfree Irish Pub Outdoor Billboard

▪ Amanda Kirkland, from Leeds, and the UA Ad Team – two Medallion Awards for Less Than U Think Anti-Binge Drinking Campaign

▪ Brittany Millwee, from Hoover, – Award of Excellence for “Soweto Street Beat dance performance brings diversity to the Performing Arts Series” news release

▪ Traci E. Rush, from Athens, Scott Young, from Birmingham, and Whitney Mork, from Cullman, – Medallion Award for Adopt-a-Pet Maddie’s Pet Rescue Project; three Awards of Excellence for Print Ad 1,2 and 60 Second Radio PSA; and a Certificate of Merit for 30 Second Radio PSA

▪ Lindsey Sinclair, from Ninety Six, S.C., – Award of Excellence for “TVAMC Hospice Unit”

▪ Scott Young, Birmingham,– Medallion Award for Veterans Service Map; three Awards of Excellence for Tuscaloosa VA Facebook, Tuscaloosa VA Twitter and VA All Star News 2009-2010; and three Certificates of Merit for “Tuscaloosa VA named top psychiatric facility in nation,” “Mellow Mushroom serves sandwich” and “Tuscaloosa VA to open outpatient clinic in Selma, Ala.”