A team of five PR Kent students earned an honorable mention in the Public Relations Student Society of America’s annual Bateman case study competition.

Bateman Blue was one of 16 entrants out of 70 from across the country that earned honorable mention. This is the second time in three years and the third time since 2008 a PRKent Bateman team was recognized with an honorable mention. In 2013, a PRKent Bateman team placed second nationally.​

​​Each year, the Bateman competition calls for PRSSA college chapter teams to research, develop, implement and evaluate a public relations campaign. This year’s competition challenge called for increasing awareness and understanding of Student Veterans of America (SVA), a non-profit that supports student veterans in their transition from the military to college life.

KENT, Ohio (April 15, 2016) — The Kent State University Chapter of the Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA Kent) co-hosted a workshop entitled “Social Movements on Social Media,” with the university’s Black United Students organization.

At the event, students heard from a panel of social media experts and social movement organizers. The panel discussed personal experiences with social movements, the strategies behind using social media to help these movements and spread messages, and the greater impact these movements have on generations.

“Our meeting created the opportunity to gain insight into the impact of social media on major movements such as the Black Lives Matter Movement,” said Samantha Durr, the director of governmental affairs and grievances for Black United Students. “This meeting gave greater understanding from firsthand accounts of how social media has shaped the major social movements of today as well as the perceptions of those participating in the major movements.”

Panelists included Kent State Associate Professor Stefanie Moore; Kent State Assistant Professor and former CIA Senior Intelligence Service Executive Stephanie Smith; community organizer Matt Vinzant; and Kent State sociology major and co-chair of the Ohio Student Association, Nyaruach Chuol. The panel was moderated by PRSSA Kent Intercampus Liaison Marcus Donaldson.