PRSSA Kent earns national recognition in Bateman competition

Kent State University’s Bateman Gold Team received national recognition in PRSSA’s Bateman Case Study Competition.

The Bateman Gold Team - composed of seniors Hannah Hamner, Julie Myers, Abby Prulhiere and Meghan Caprez and junior Marcus Donaldson - was one of 11 teams out of 51 that received an honorable mention in the competition.

Bateman is an annual national PRSSA challenge to create, implement and evaluate a public relations plan. Each year, the School of Journalism and Mass Communication faculty selects 10 public relations students to create two teams that participate in the invite-only competition.

This year, the Bateman Gold Team engaged students at campus-wide events through its P(L)AY UP campaign, increasing awareness and usage of its client Popmoney®, a money transferring service.

“We had a lot of fun with the P(L)AY UP campaign,” Caprez said. “Our active approach was really well-received during our research period, and we put that research to work during implementation. I think our research is what really set us apart.”

The competition gave the students a chance to utilize the skills they learn inside the classroom to create a successful campaign outside the classroom, preparing them for their careers after graduation.

“My involvement in Bateman has already proven to be beneficial,” Hamner said. “We had to actually implement a campaign with real people and a real budget, while projects in our other classes are hypothetical. Bateman gave my team and I a chance to use the skills we’ve gained throughout college to create a unique campaign that attracted national attention. I am confident my involvement with Bateman will make me stand out when applying for positions after graduation.”

This is the third time Kent State University has received national recognition in the competition. The Bateman Blue Team won second place in the 2013 competition.

“I’m really proud that we can add to the legacy the Bateman Blue Team jumpstarted last year,” Caprez said. “It’s really a testament to Kent’s PR program that we keep placing, and I have no doubt next year’s team will continue that legacy.”

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