This national award, considered to be the “gold standard” for excellence by the Public Relations Student Society of America, recognizes the chapter’s outstanding work in programming and relationship opportunities.The University of Alabama at Birmingham chapter of the Public Relations Council of Alabama/Public Relations Student Society of America has been awarded STAR Chapter status by the Public Relations Student Society of America.

The PRCA/PRSSA at UAB chapter is a registered student organization and an extension of the academic public relations program in the College of Arts and Sciences’ Department of Communication Studies. Students are provided with professional development and networking opportunities, including membership to both PRCA and PRSSA.

This is the seventh year the UAB chapter has received this national recognition, says Jacquelyn S. Shaia, J.D., Ph.D., associate professor and director of the program. Considered to be the “gold standard” for excellence by PRSSA, this significant national award recognizes the chapter’s outstanding work in programming and relationship opportunities, she says.

This year, students developed and delivered public relations campaigns for nonprofit organizations Special Equestrians, Holy Family Christo Rey Catholic High School and Mission 34. The campaigns addressed each organization’s specific and unique needs and produced measurable and positive results, Shaia says. These areas included fundraising, recruitment, strengthening of internal controls and processes, event planning, social media, development of promotional materials, media contacts, production of videos, and development and implementation of crisis management plans.

Students in the public relations program at UAB have worked unbelievably hard, Shaia says. They work in teams to assess, develop and deliver campaigns that are specifically developed for each client. By the time each student graduates, they will have gone through all aspects of client representation.

“This program produces young professionals who graduate prepared to enter the workforce where they can successfully compete, and the market for jobs and salaries in this field is robust,” she said. “This award, by a national organization such as PRSSA, recognizes the excellence of these students, and I am so very proud of how each represents UAB and this community.”