UA’s Own Duck (Tape) Dynasty

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — For the second year in a row, The University of Alabama’s Arlyn S. Powell chapter of the Public Relations Student Society of America has won the national College Duck Tape Mini-Competition PRSSA challenge.

The chapter’s members held a scavenger hunt in Reese Phifer Hall and a tailgate event prior to the Alabama-Tennessee football game to bring home the $1,000 prize.

The Duck Tape win marks just one of the chapters accomplishments for the fall 2013 semester. Additionally, it was selected as a Star Chapter at the PRSSA national convention.

“I am so proud of our chapter’s hard work so far this year, as members have put countless hours into ensuring the success of our various fundraisers, meetings, events and the national conference,” said Christi Rich, a senior public relations major from Hoschton, Ga., who serves as president of PRSSA.

To receive the Star Chapter Award, chapters must meet at least eight of 10 requirements that encourage relationship-building and professional development opportunities for students.

Also at the PRSSA national conference, Capstone Agency representatives Rich and Jacquie McMahon, a junior public relations major from Pawleys Island, S.C., led a chapter development session titled “reFIRMation,” on restructuring student-run firms for success. Rich, McMahon and Susan Griffiths, student adviser to UA PRSSA, were awarded the Chapter Development Presentation Award and were commended for their leadership in the field.

“I’m very proud of our chapter’s accomplishments from our national PRSSA Star Chapter recognition to our national Betsy Plank/PRSSA scholarship recipient to the recent Duck Tape Mini-Competition win,” said Tracy Sims, faculty adviser for the group. “It’s a real pleasure to work with a chapter so dedicated to leadership and professional development in the public relations field.”

PRSSA, a student organization associated with Public Relations Society of America and housed in UA’s College of Communication and Information Sciences, is committed to providing students with opportunities to further their knowledge regarding the profession. Consisting of 11,000 college students, PRSSA is dedicated to helping students develop skills, learn to network and succeed in public relations. UA’s chapter of PRSSA is among the largest in the country with more than 260 members.

For more information about UA’s PRSSA chapter, contact Christi Rich, president, at clrich@crimson.ua.edu or 770-364-3737.