UA PR Student Wins National Outstanding Student Award

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — University of Alabama advertising and public relations senior Jessica Colburn, of Hoover, has been named the 2013 winner of the Public Relations Student Society of America’s prestigious Daniel J. Edelman/PRSSA Award for the Outstanding Public Relations Student.

The national award is given annually to a student who is a PRSSA member, displays leadership and who has public relations-related achievements and activities, a digital presence and recommendations from public relations faculty and/or industry professionals. As winner of the award, Colburn will receive $2,500 ($1,000 upon winning award and $1,500 upon start date of internship) and a three-month paid internship in one of Edelman’s U.S. offices.

“Winning this award is the highlight of my career so far. It really shows me that my work here at The University of Alabama is professional work, not just student work,” Colburn said. “It makes me feel like I have reached all my goals as a college student, and it makes me really excited to see where I will go now.”

Colburn is firm director for the UA department of advertising and public relations’ Capstone Agency, director of communications for the Student Government Association and editor and vice president for Platform Magazine, a digital publication supported by UA’s Plank Center for Leadership in Public Relations. She will start her internship with Edelman upon graduating in May.

“This award is just one more example of how our students are the best in the nation,” said Teri Henley, public relations instructor and Capstone Agency adviser. “It’s named after one of the superstars of our industry, and to have the name ‘Daniel J. Edelman’ attached to an award that you get is absolutely stunning. Jessica is one of the most outstanding students that I’ve had the opportunity to work with; she is already as sharp as many public relations pros currently earning a paycheck.”

The department of advertising and public relations is part of UA’s College of Communication and Information Sciences.