Members of the Kent State Chapter of the Public Relations
Student Society of America pose for a photo after the
chapter was named winner of the 2014 Outstanding
Chapter award at its National Conference in Washington,
D.C., on Oct. 13.

The Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) named Kent State University the winner of the 2014 Outstanding Chapter award at its National Conference in Washington, D.C., Oct. 13.

PRSSA, a national organization composed of students interested in public relations and communications nationwide, presents the Outstanding Chapter award to one Chapter that displays “a continued effort on the behalf of PRSSA.” As part of the Dr. F.H. Teahan Chapter Awards Program, the recognition is the highest honor a chapter can receive from PRSSA. One of more than 340 chapters across the nation, PRSSA Kent was chosen as the 2014 Outstanding Chapter.

“Earning this award truly means a lot to all of us,” says Cindy Deng, immediate past president of PRSSA Kent and a Kent State senior from Streetsboro. “It confirms that we're the ‘real deal’ to our members.”

“Becoming the 2014 Outstanding Chapter solidifies PRSSA Kent’s role as a leader in our national organization,” says Meghan Caprez, PRSSA Kent president and a Kent State senior from Akron. “We couldn’t have taken on that role without the dedication of our members, alumni, faculty and professional supporters. We share this award with them.”

PRSSA Kent officers submitted an application in June to be considered for the award. The chapter highlighted its stellar record participating in national PRSSA initiatives, fundraising to send members to conferences, hosting professional speakers and career preparation meetings, reaching out to alumni, contributing to university and community service and connecting students with internship opportunities throughout the 2013-2014 academic year.

“I have seen this chapter's strong national presence firsthand, but most importantly, I've heard of its outstanding efforts at the chapter level,” says Heather Harder, PRSSA national president. “The best PRSSA chapters engage locally with members and the community and enhance their overall PRSSA experience with a national presence. PRSSA Kent excels at this combination and serves as an example for all chapters to follow.”

During the past decade, PRSSA Kent has won seven national Teahan awards for its website, its university service, its faculty advisor and its relationship with its parent chapter, the Akron-Area Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA).

“The PRSSA Kent students invest countless hours to create opportunities for students to learn about the PR field and how they can gain relevant experience,” says Michele Ewing, APR, Kent State associate professor of public relations and PRSSA Kent faculty advisor. “Winning Outstanding Chapter is the Oscar of the PRSSA world. It shows that our Kent State PR students and alumni are among the best in the nation.”

PRSSA (www.prssa.org) is the foremost organization for students interested in public relations and communications. Founded in 1968 by PRSA, its parent organization, PRSSA includes more than 11,000 student members and advisers and is active at more than 340 colleges and universities.

For more information about PRSSA Kent, visit www.prssakent.com.

For more information about Kent State’s School of Journalism and Mass Communication, home to the public relations program, visit http://jmc.kent.edu.