November 21, 2008
For Immediate Release
For an Interview:
Farah Chase-Dunn
(801) 376-5176
A Utah Valley University student was selected by the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) Greater Salt Lake Chapter as the Utah Public Relations (PR) Student of the Year. The winner, Britnee Nguyen, was one of more than 40 communications students across Utah and Idaho to compete for a $1,000 cash prize and an internship with the 2008 nonprofit client, Utah Cancer Foundation.
"I’m grateful to receive this award and to represent the UVU public relations program," Nguyen said. "I wouldn’t have done as well as I did if it weren’t for the PR knowledge I gained from the classes and professors at UVU."
The contest began in October when students submitted a written public relations strategy for the Utah Cancer Foundation to increase name awareness of the organization and raise funds for its lawn service. Each document included research, objectives, tactics and a timeline for the proposed events. A panel of Salt Lake area PR professionals judged the entries and selected five finalists.
Each finalist was given the chance to develop and present a campaign plan to PR agency directors and the executive director of the Utah Cancer Foundation in Salt Lake City, Nov. 1.
During the six-hour competition, the five finalists presented their strategy, pitched a story to KSL-TV health reporter Ed Yeates, wrote a timed press release and managed a crisis situation. The judges also questioned each finalist about their proposed campaigns. After it was over, the students were given one-on-one feedback and critique of their work.
"The competition gave me the hands-on experience of an actual public relations case," Nguyen said. "I feel even more prepared now to enter the work force after I graduate."
The Public Relations Society of America is the world's largest organization for public relations professionals. The Society has nearly 32,000 professional and student members. PRSA is organized into more than 100 Chapters nationwide, including the Greater Salt Lake Chapter.
Corporate sponsors of the competition were Intrepid, Vanguard Media Group and Alphagraphics. Past winners of the competition were from the University of Utah (2007) and Utah State University (2006).
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College Marketing Contact:
Erin Spurgeon
(801) 863-6807
Written by:
Hanna Hopkinson
(801) 863-7205