UA Staff, Students Win Big at PRCA Conference

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — A number of students and staff members from The University of Alabama were honored at the Public Relations Council of Alabama’s annual conference.

“The PRCA Medallion Awards allow PR professionals and students to showcase their work and have it evaluated by communicators from outside of our state,” said Dr. Suzanne Horsley, PRCA West Alabama chapter president and faculty adviser for UA’s student PRCA chapter.

“For the students, this is an opportunity to bridge the gap from doing classroom work to doing professional work,” Horsley said. “The judge’s feedback is especially helpful for students making the transition into their careers.”

A full list of UA winners and awards can be found below.

Jessika White, communications specialist, The Plank Center for Leadership in Public Relations

• Judge’s Choice Award, Betsy Plank Day 90 Facts Team
• Medallion Award, Betsy Plank Day 90 Facts Team
• Award of Excellence, Betsy Plank Day Team
• Award of Excellence, 2nd Annual West Alabama Food and Wine Festival

Edith Parten, communications specialist, Culverhouse College of Commerce

• Award of Excellence, Fall 2014 Executive Magazine (Edith Parten and Sherry Lang)
• Award of Merit, Fayard Accounting Brochure

Stephanie Kirkland, communications specialist, College of Arts and Sciences:

• Award of Excellence
• Award of Merit, Arty Party (Becky Florence, Amanda Kachler, Stephanie Kirkland, Denise Kloster)

Capstone Agency (student-run firm housed in the College of Communication & Information Sciences):

Medallion Awards

• Electronic Communication/Social Media Activities, NASCAR Instagram
• Electronic Communication/Social Media Activities, NASCAR Twitter
• Electronic Communication/Social Media Activities, NASCAR Vine
• Electronic Communication/Social Media Activities, The Plank Center’s Betsy Day 2014 Twitter
• PR Plans and Programs, LessThanUThink Sacred Heart University Implementation
• PR Plans and Programs, The Plank Center’s Betsy Day 2014 Implementation
• PR Plans and Programs, Tuscaloosa City Schools
• Publications/Writing, Alabama Power Newspaper Article
• Publications/Writing, Alabama Power Platform Online Magazine Power Plan
• Publications/Writing, Alabama Power Press Release
• Publications/Writing, LessThanUThink #Responsible Resolutions Blog
• Publications/Writing, LessThanUThink Pre-Concert Event News Release

Awards of Excellence

• Electronic Communication/Social Media Activities, LessThanUThink: Orange County Twitter
• Electronic Communication/Social Media Activities, LessThanUThink: Sacred Heart University Twitter
• Electronic Communication/Social Media Activities, NASCAR Facebook
• Electronic Communication/Social Media Activities, NASCAR Plansbook
• PR Plans and Programs, Alabama Power Plansbook
• PR Plans and Programs, LessThanUThink Rising Tide Student Tailgate
• Publications/Writing, Alabama Power Feature Story
• Websites, LessThanUThink Website

Awards of Merit

• Electronic Communication/Social Media Activities, LessThanUThink: Orange County Facebook
• Electronic Communication/Social Media Activities, LessThanUThink: Sacred Heart University Facebook
• PR Plans and Programs, LessThanUThink Orange County Implementation