Award follows BYU's PR program being named Top-5 PR program by PR Week
- Best Chapter award only given to one of 300 student chapters
- BYU's PRSSA chapter was started more than 40 years ago
- Student Michelle Treasure also recognized as a top PR student
BYU’s chapter of the Public Relations Student Society of America has been named this year’s national Outstanding Chapter – an award given to only one of the more than 300 student public relations chapters annually.
Representatives of the BYU Rulon L. Bradley Chapter, including nine students and two faculty advisors, learned of the achievement this week at the PRSSA annual meetings in Washington D.C.
“This is a big deal,” said Brad Rawlins, chair of the Communications Department. “This is the biggest award given to student chapters by the largest and most recognized PR association in the country. This is the only award given of this magnitude – there is no second or third place.”
Society representatives said the BYU chapter exceeded performance in every category considered, from excellent community relations and faculty advisement to top-notch newsletter, website and student-run firm.
The Outstanding Chapter award comes on the heels of this summer’s announcement by PR Week magazine that BYU’s PR program is one of the top five student PR programs nationwide.
“I've always known that we had a great chapter, but it's nice to be validated,” said senior Lauren Lytle, president of BYU’s PRSSA chapter. “It feels good to be recognized for all the hard work we put into our PRSSA chapter.”
BYU student Michelle Treasure was also recognized during the national conference as a winner of the Golden Key award. Treasure, a senior from Sammamish, Wash., was one of only 30 students nationwide to win the award, which is the highest individual honor PRSSA members can receive.
BYU’s PRSSA chapter was established more than 40 years ago and is now led by faculty adviser Susan Walton, who is also a member-elect of the Board of Directors of the Public Relations Society of America, PRSSA’s parent organization.
The BYU chapter also works hand-in-hand with BYU’s student-run PR firm, Bradley PR, which is led by adviser Jeff Dubois. Both Dubois and Walton were on hand this week in Washington for the award.
"One of the hallmarks of this award is that it is given to a PRSSA chapter that demonstrates excellence across a variety of categories -- not only in one or two areas," Walton said. "That really exemplifies our BYU PRSSA students. They make meaningful contributions in so many ways -- through service, scholarship, education, career development and preparation, and building relationships with the community and with other public relations professionals."
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