The auction will raise funds to support conference travel to the 2024 International Public Relations Conference in Anaheim, California in October. ICON will have panels, networking events, and more which have secured internships in the past for members. Funds will also support other PRSSA Kent events and programming for PRSSA Kent members.
Any faculty, students, alumni and friends of MDJ are invited to attend the auction, (no RSVP is necessary). Being part of the MDJ community is a chance to show support for student organizations that help expand the community. Fundraising is an integral part of helping any organization expand its efforts. To support the auction by donating, you can contact the Vice President of Fundraising and Community Outreach, Caitlyn Soya. Any support of the organization is appreciated. Click here to support the ICON trip!
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 By Natalie Meek
As a freshman, I’ve learned how to survive two straight days of class with no sleep and a venti sized coffee. I’ve learned how to start a conversation with a complete stranger, and to not be embarrassed for eating an entire pizza at three in the morning. But thanks to PRSSA, I have also learned how to start a resume, network with professionals, and how to prepare for future internships. Many freshmen, like myself, come into college with a vague vision for their future. We take an array of classes, join various clubs and organizations, and meet as many people as we can in hopes to prepare for our eventual life after college. However, because of PRSSA, I can honestly say that I have a clearer idea of my future as a public relations professional. There are so many valuable lessons and skills that people can take away from being a PRSSA member. I would encourage anyone to become involved- especially as an underclassman. Being a PRSSA member not only helps me constantly keep my professional goals in mind, but also pushes me to stretch those goals to more than I would have ever imagined otherwise. By being exposed to dozens of professionals from local and national businesses, you are able to see first-hand the different types of opportunities that are available for this career. Attending networking events like Communications Connected as a freshman can also be incredibly valuable. Although you probably aren’t looking to connect for an immediate internship, it is never too early to start making connections and putting your name out there. The PRSSA meetings that occur every other Wednesday have been a great way to start this learning process. In just one semester, I have learned about PR opportunities in non-profits, the fashion industry, entertainment, and government. Because you have no experience in PR, it is so valuable to hear about these categories right off the bat. After listening to professionals explain their career responsibilities, it is much easier to have a clearer vision of what you like and what you do not. When you have a better idea of where you want to take your future career, you are able to make your classes and internships much more beneficial. One of the events I attended this semester was PRSSA National Conference in Indianapolis. This was an amazing event that hosted hundreds of PRSSA students from across the nation. We all had the opportunity to network with each other and with the professionals that spoke at the conference. There were sessions given by PR professionals working for Vera Bradley, Warner Brothers, the NCAA, nonprofit organizations, and many other companies. There were multiple opportunities for resume critique and workshops, and we even attended a few sessions with the professional organization, PRSA. Being surrounded by other aspiring public relations professionals created a very exciting atmosphere, and speaking with the professionals who had already achieved many of the goals that we set for ourselves was incredibly inspiring. PRSSA Kent has been more than just a career starter for me. I came to Kent State not knowing many people, and I wasn’t incredibly active on campus because everything was so new to me. But PRSSA has been nothing but welcoming since the very first meeting. The upperclassmen on the executive board are role models like no other. They are smart, driven, experienced students and there are so many lessons that I have learned simply by watching them run our chapter. So many upperclassmen, especially at National Conference, reached out to me with advice and I am lucky to have formed friendships with such a smart, supportive group of people. It’s normal, and in most cases, expected, to have confusion concerning your future professional life; and PRSSA knows that. The faculty assistance, diversity, and events within PRSSA make this organization extremely beneficial. I have made friends, mentors, and connections by joining PRSSA, and I am so glad that I chose to start this journey as a freshman. Natalie Meek is a freshman PR major and is PRSSA Kent's editor. Contact her at [email protected].  By Daniel Henderson
Last weekend, fifteen PRSSA Kent members loaded up their cars and departed for Indianapolis. This year's annual PRSSA National Conference, "The Crossroads of public relations," offered a lot for students to think about and bring back to their classes here in Kent. Friday morning was filled with agency tours, where students got a firsthand look at the PR activities of companies like Eli Lilly, Hiron, NCAA, and more. Resume critiques were offered, and our fellow PRSSA Chapters from Drake University, Ohio University, Eastern Michigan, and Rowan University presented on topics ranging from how to effectively manage a student run firm, to how to be a great PRSSA leader. Saturday and Sunday provided students the opportunity to learn from PR professionals at the center of the industry right now. These sessions were in depth analyses of different PR fields, and how we can prepare for a successful future in public relations. More specifics on the rich content form these sessions will be covered in detail on PRSSA Kent's blog from the students who attended them. PRSA, our parent organization, held their annual national conference right next door and offered general sessions for PRSSA students to attend and hear inspirational presentations from keynote speakers. Derreck Kayongo, the CEO of the Center for Civil and Human Rights, reminded us the power PR professional's hold to affect worldwide global change for good, and how effective and targeted communication about the world’s problems helps spark to solutions to those problems. Following Kayongo, United States Astronaut Scott Kelly, who spent a year in space, spoke about his time in space and how communication and PR pros are needed to help keep the public invested in projects that will redefine humanities place in the universe. Monday morning was another PRSA general session from Theresa Payton, former Chief Information Officer for the White House and President of Fortalice Solutions. Payton's expertise on cyber security gave everyone pause about how safe our information actually is in the age of social media, and how often we put ourselves at risk. Mark Emmert sat down for a live interview about the NCAA following Payton's presentation, and gave interesting insight into the workings of the NCAA and how it handles the PR problems that arise from having 19,000 teams operating within your brand. PRSSA Kent left conference with its fair share of recognition for successes over the last year. Hanna Moore and Brenna Parker with both recognized as recipients of the Presidential Citation and the immediate past president Gabrielle Woodard was awarded the Golden Key award. PRSSA Kent as an organization received the Teahan award for its efforts in diversity. Overall a successful trip to the crossroads of America for our members, and we look forward to next year’s annual conference in Boston. Daniel Henderson is a senior public relations major and is PRSSA Kent's treasurer. Contact him at [email protected].  Fifteen of our members attended PRSSA National Conference this fall, which was a great career opportunity filled with networking and professional development sessions. We had the opportunity to hear from a variety of speakers who have had success in the public relations and communications field. Below are the session recap blogs written by our members: Special Session: Become the Intern Guru Where are They Now? Conversation With Warner Bros. Television Publicity Knowing What to Say: A Guide to Political Public Relations Recap Engaging your Internal Audience Get Your Head in the Game Crisis in the Crossroads The Profit of Non-profit PR Three Ways to Spice Up Your Job Application Start Up Smart Why #ItsGoodToBeAGirl: You can never have enough Vera Bradley! Pitch(ing) Perfect Work It: Fashion Public Relations Once Upon A Time: A Guide to Storytelling For more information about PRSSA National Conference, visit http://prssa.prsa.org/events/Conference/. 
By Danie Minor
While at PRSSA National Conference, I had the opportunity to hear the infamous Intern Queen, Lauren Berger share her insights and tips on how to get the best internship. Beyond sharing her tips and tricks to getting an internship, she also shared how to maintain a great relationship after your internship is finished. While in college, Berger completed a total of 15 internships (this is why she is a Queen!) and only three years after graduating college started her business, Intern Queen. As a freshman, Berger’s mom told her she needed to get an internship, so she marched down to the career services center on campus and told them where she wanted to intern and the career services center to come back when she was a junior or senior. Berger took it upon herself with her only relevant work experience being at Limited Too and Red Lobster and made a cold call to the Zimmerman Agency. The internship coordinator told her to send in her resume and she sent it that night, which is what won over the coordinator and gave her the position. So basically, say yes even when people tell you no, because you never know what could happen when you try. Berger says that when it comes to internships it’s really about “quality over quantity,” so you do not need 15 internships to get a great job after school, but she does recommend having at least two before you graduate. Lauren’s tips to get the internship:
Lauren’s number one tip once you’ve had your internship: Follow up THREE times a year with people from your internship! Once in the fall, once in the spring and once in the summer. Berger says this will help you maintain a relationship with your professional contacts there so your relationship does not get awkward. In the words of the Intern Queen, “internships are magical!” They are so magical because you never know where they will lead your professional career to. For example, when Berger graduated, she called up a past internship and told them she was moving back to L.A. and wanted to work at the Creative Artist Agency, so her former boss placed her on hold, and made a phone call to the agency and got her an interview a for a few days later. Like she said, they are magical! The Intern Queen has so many amazing tips to landing your goal internship and jobs after college, so definitely follow her on social media @Internqueen and watch her videos on Youtube at Youtube.com/internqueen! I loved meeting her and cannot wait to see where her advice leads me. Danie Minor is a senior public relations major at Kent State. Contact her at [email protected]. |
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