PRSA Student Day offers Northeast Ohio networking opportunities

Click to view a printable flyer.

by Jamie Brian

The Greater Cleveland Chapter of PRSA will host its annual Student Day event at the Eaton Corporation headquarters in Beachwood on Nov. 7.  

Students are given the opportunity to listen to and network with industry professionals during the half-day program. 

The first session is a panel discussion with Cleveland-area professionals, including Vitamix Director of Communication Scott Tennant, Federal Reserve Bank VP of Public Affairs Iris Cumberbatch and Eaton Corporation Manager of External Affairs Ann Marie Halal. The forum will promote professional development. The second session will be interactive, focusing on personal branding, case studies and networking. 

Attending PRSA Student Day gives students the chance to network with local professionals and discover their public relations interest areas, PRSA Student Day Chair and PRKent alumna Katie Kennedy said.

“We’re trying to focus on giving students a real-life perspective of the field,” Kennedy said. “Working in entertainment and sports PR are seen as the more glamorous jobs, but we also want to put emphasis on the other job opportunities available.”

Approximately 80 students took advantage of the Student Day sessions in 2013, including five PRSSA Kent members. 

“I enjoyed meeting students from other local PRSSA Chapters,” PRSSA Kent President Meghan Caprez said. “It gives you a taste of National Conference at a local level because you get to meet people from schools like Cleveland State, Baldwin Wallace and Ohio University.”

Students look forward to hearing the ever-changing topics of discussion and exchanging ideas with like-minded people, PRSA/PRSSA Kent Liaison and Immediate Past President Cindy Deng said. 

“Each year, the topics are always something new, yet still relevant to the main target audience: the students,” Deng said.

PRSSA Kent officers encourage public relations students to attend from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. to receive real-world advice from professionals. Those interested may purchase tickets for $25 on Eventbrite. The ticket price includes a continental breakfast and lunch.

---