 Historical Background
St. Patrick’s Day, March 17, began as the feast day of Ireland’s patron saint, Patrick, who is credited with bringing Christianity to the island. By his death in 461, he had established schools, churches and monasteries, according to Britannica. In Ireland, this day is celebrated with religious services and feasts. As Irish immigrants settled in the United States, the holiday evolved into a more secular celebration. Cities with large numbers of Irish immigrants, like Boston, which held the first St. Patrick’s Day parade in 1737, started to throw extensive and elaborate celebrations. Today, the holiday is widely celebrated across the country. Traditional Celebrations In my family, St. Patrick’s Day means gathering for breakfast at Hooley House, where we spend hours watching a local Irish dance school perform and listening to live bagpipes and drums. Later, we meet again at my grandmother’s house for corned beef and cabbage, ending the night together in the living room with Irish music playing. The holiday has always been a point of pride for us and a way to celebrate our Irish heritage. Fake Patty’s Day in Kent At Kent State, the celebration takes on a different form. Students observe “Fake Patty’s,” an unofficial tradition of going out the weekend before or after March 17.
0 Comments
 By Amanda Hickey PRSSA Kent students explored corporate communications firsthand during a field trip to Davey Tree on Friday, Feb. 27. The group visited the Student, Employee Education and Development (SEED) campus, a newly built hub for training, research and innovation that showcases the company’s investment and hands-on work in the environmental industry. The day began with a panel discussion featuring PR Director Jennifer Lennox and Senior Manager of Corporate Content Matt Fredmonsky. Jennifer, who has spent her entire career at Davey, highlighted the importance of equal team voices and a supportive employee culture. She shared what keeps her coming back every day: admiration for her colleagues and the collaborative environment. Both Jennifer and Matt said PR is a daily grind with occasional glamour on high-profile projects. Employees gain pride and purpose from their work, such as when social media posts are widely shared after a storm, showing the tangible impact of their efforts. Matt, a former journalist, said his favorite part of the job is designing their magazine, The Davey Bulletin. He noted that employees can buy company shares at a discount, reflecting the company’s focus on culture, and advised students to develop portfolios and tailored applications. Their insights showed how storytelling, design and strategy work together in corporate communications. After the discussion, students toured the SEED campus, with Matt leading and Jennifer providing additional insights. The group observed research labs, offices and a one-of-a-kind tree-climbing facility where employees train to safely climb and work in trees. Students also learned that the facility will host the North American Tree Climbing Championship (NATCC) in May, open to the public. The campus reflects Davey Tree’s values of sustainability, history and innovation. Recycled wood furniture highlights natural patterns, textures and colors, from chairs with backs carved like leafy branches to a long communal table with the Davey logo burned into the surface. Students noted the fresh scent of wood and the natural light from the windows, which communicated the company’s culture through design. The field trip gave students an inside glimpse into corporate communications while inspiring creativity and strategic thinking for their own future PR careers.  By Julia Greco Three professionals from the Cleveland Browns shared their insight on sports marketing and media during PRSSA Kent’s virtual panel, “Women Who Grow the Game,” giving students an inside look at NFL-level brand strategy and fan engagement. Kelsey Russo, associate editor, described the fast pace of a typical game week. From midweek press conferences to Sunday coverage, her role focuses on storytelling across multiple platforms. “On game day, I’m in the press box covering the game, writing a story or column that breaks down what happened,” Russo said. Afterward, she gathers quotes from players and coaches to shape follow-up content. Russo said the biggest adjustment in moving from beat reporter to in-house writer was learning how to frame stories while still maintaining credibility. “It’s kind of that balance,” Russo said. “While we are promoting the team, we’re also being fair about its state, so people feel like they can trust what they’re reading.” While Russo focuses on storytelling, she emphasized that the same information can be framed in different voices or tones. Pozuelos builds on that approach in her work expanding the Browns’ fandom beyond Ohio. She leads influencer marketing and oversees the Browns’ efforts in Nigeria through the NFL’s Global Markets Program. “I don’t really have an offseason because many of the programs I work on operate year-round,” Pozuelos said. After the Browns gained Nigerian marketing rights in 2024, they focused on developing American football, celebrating diverse culture and building brand awareness. Pozuelos emphasized the importance of research and adaptability. “You always have to be intentional about what you do,” she said. “This is a completely different market compared to Northeast Ohio. So how can we adapt to that?” Her work includes hosting camps and clinics, collaborating with Nigerian partners and building engagement through influencers and content creators. As the program grows, she said success is increasingly measured with clear benchmarks. “Now can we start to put numbers behind things?” Pozuelos said. Ellie Levy, marketing coordinator, approaches her role through event planning and experience. She helps execute game-day activations, affinity events and stadium productions, treating each home game as its own event. “What we cannot control is what’s happening on the field,” Levy said. “What we can control is the vibe of the stadium.” From kids club events to concerts, Levy said success varies by campaign. “A win means no medical incidents and no one got hurt,” she said. “Doing something is a win in itself.” All three panelists addressed navigating a male-dominated industry. Russo encouraged students to trust their knowledge. Pozuelos told attendees that “there is a space for women to succeed, to thrive.” Levy urged young professionals not to discount their experience. “Never discount any experience you’ve had,” Levy said. “You can translate it.” Together, the panelists showed that growing the game requires strategy, adaptability and the confidence to take up space.   By Paige Johnson
PRSSA’s Influence Since May 2025, I’ve interned in the corporate communications department at Davey Tree Expert Company, headquartered in Kent, Ohio. I landed this opportunity through PRSSA Kent meetings, which makes it feel even more special and rewarding. My supervisor, Jill Rebuck, senior project manager and a PR Kent alum, connected my work projects to my coursework. Many of Davey’s initiatives are inspired by PR Kent projects. For example, Jill launched Davey’s Talking Trees with Davey Tree podcast based on a podcasting project in Professor Stefanie Moore’s Digital PR class. Rise of the SEED Campus This summer was an exciting time to intern. Davey was preparing for a multi-year, multi-million-dollar project: the SEED Campus (Science, Employee Education and Development). This new training and research center for employees across North America positions Davey as a thought leader in the green industry. The SEED Campus had its grand opening in August of 2025. Therefore, the preparation began as soon as I started in May. When a company invests so much time and money into a project like this, do you know how much communication is involved? I worked on various PR and communications projects throughout the summer to promote the SEED Campus. I helped Jill lead media tours, inviting reporters from outlets such as the Record-Courier, Akron Beacon Journal, Properties Magazine, Kent Stater and Landscape Management. I coordinated interviews and created materials, including talking points and fact sheets, applying skills from Professor Michele Ewing’s Media Relations and Publicity class. Event planning was another major component. We organized a 100-guest event that included SEED collaborators, Kent State leaders, government officials and State Rep. Heidi Workman. I helped manage guest flow and logistics throughout. We also produced corporate content for the SEED Campus. Jill and I recorded mini-mic interviews for Davey’s social media, asking attendees about their impressions. These videos performed well, inspiring additional mini-series throughout the fall. Alongside SEED-related work, I maintained weekly responsibilities. I managed Davey’s newsroom, working with Garden Media Group to track national news coverage, and edited and wrote show notes for the Talking Trees with Davey Tree podcast. Internship to Full-Time Employment This internship was incredibly fulfilling. I made meaningful connections, gained hands‑on experience and strengthened my passion for public relations. I cannot thank my Davey mentors enough for supporting me every step of the way. To my excitement, my supervisors offered me a full‑time position on the corporate communications team. My role will expand on my internship duties, with additional focus on corporate content. I’m currently working on Davey’s corporate responsibility report and contributing to B2B communication efforts through trade‑focused content. I’ve already begun writing editorial pieces for publications such as T&D World, a leading outlet in the utility and green industries. I’m eager to graduate and begin my full‑time role at Davey, but I will deeply miss my time at Kent State. The opportunities I have today wouldn’t exist without the support of my Kent State family. I’m grateful for the memories, friendships and experiences that shaped my journey, and I wish the very best for my fellow graduates! |
|
RSS Feed
