will be on Thursday, May 31 at 5:30 p.m. You can find details and register here.

Download the application here.

Selection Criteria

One $1,000 scholarship recipient will be selected based on the following criteria:

1.    A legal Pennsylvania resident

2.    A full-time student who will begin his or her junior or senior year in the fall of 2012 while majoring in a communications-related discipline at an accredited Pennsylvania college or university

3.    Academic achievement requiring a current college grade point average of 2.75 or higher, based on a 4.0

        scale

4.    Extracurricular activities and campus/community involvement

5.   Strong writing skills

The deadline to submit your application is May 4th.

For more details, check out the event page.

PLEASE NOTE: The Cellar is a BYOB restaurant.

The survey information is posted on both our Facebook Group and our LinkedIn Group. (Note that you must be a PPRS member to participate in these groups.)

The deadline for survey completion is February 29. Thank you for your assistance!

If you have any questions, or have survey suggestions, please contact Dan Christ at dchrist@patriot-news.com or Heather Leach at heather@prvca.org.

Other officers elected were vice president Kim Barger, freelance marketing and design specialist; secretary Joan Nissley, press secretary, PA Department of Military and Veterans Affairs; and treasurer Quinn Bryner, account supervisor, Tierney.

For more details, check out our press release.

Check out the program description, and find out how to register, here.

Maietta graduated summa cum laude with a degree in English from Bucknell University, enlisting in the military upon graduation.  In the early part of his career, he held several different civilian positions, including press secretary for the PA Department of Military and Veterans Affairs as he continued part-time military service.   He then proceeded through the officer ranks 28^th Infantry Division, 109^th Public Affairs Detachment and State Headquarters of the Army National Guard, serving active duty in military public affairs in Bosnia and Kosovo and most recently with the Iraqi Ministry of the Interior in Baghdad.

The Ernest M. McDowell Award was established in 1991 to recognize an individual for sustained excellence in the field of public relations, in both the profession itself and the community. It is presented in memory of the late Senior Vice President of Marketing and Corporate Relations with Capital Health System – today’s Pinnacle HealthSystem. McDowell set the standard for professionalism and community service with his good works and lifetime example. 

PPRS was formed in 1950 to support and elevate the professional standards of public relations practitioners, facilitate professional and social relations among such practitioners and disseminate professional information of benefit to individuals and the profession.  Membership candidacy is open to all persons of good standards of professional practice and ethics who, at the time of their election, earn a major portion of their livelihoods in a recognized field of public relations.

At the May meeting, the Pennsylvania Public Relations Society was pleased to recognize our 2011 scholarship winner, Leah Pressman.  Leah will be a junior at West Chester in the fall, but had a great combination of grades, activities and faculty recommendations to earn the award.

Leah is involved in many communication-related activities including acting and two summer internships; the first with the West Chester University communication department, and another with the Greater Philadelphia Film Office.  She is also an active member of the Delta Zeta Sorority.

In a recommendation, one of her professors wrote, "Leah's motivation, strong writing skills and ability to pick up new skills quickly apply direct to success in public relations."

In a deep pool of talent for the 2011 PPRS scholarship, Leah was the best candidate for the award.  PPRS was thrilled to host Leah and her parents, Steve and Myrna, at the May meeting and PPRS wishes her great success in her academic and professional endeavors.

 (December 1, 2010) Harrisburg, PA – At its annual Evening of Honors event in November the Pennsylvania Public Relations Society (PPRS) membership approved the 2011 slate of officers.  In addition, incoming committee chairpersons were named. 

Stephanie Weyant, deputy director of new media for the Pennsylvania Lottery was elected president.  Other officers elected include vice president – Mark O’Neill, media relations director – PA Farm Bureau; secretary – Kim Barger, freelance marketing and design specialist; and treasurer – Joan Nissley, press secretary, PA Department of Military and Veterans Affairs.

                Incoming committee chairpersons include:

Awards and Installation Committee
Robert M. Fisher (retired)
Betty Hungerford, director of development – Homeland Center

Bylaws Committee
Robert M. Fisher (retired)

Membership Committee
Quinn Bryner, senior account executive - Tierney Communications

Nominating and Professional Standards Committee
Jason S. Kirsch, APR, vice president, director of marketing and public relations – Metro Bank

Programming Committee
Danielle Kozich, internet strategies specialist – Bravo Group

Jamie Yates, deputy press secretary – PA Department of Community and Economic Development

Publicity Committee
Erin Loudenslager, assistant vice president of government relations – PA Bankers Association

Special Events Committee
Heather Leach, marketing and education director - PA Recreational Vehicle and Camping Association

Crystal Hull, ABC, corporate director, communications and public relations – Lutheran Social Services of South Central PA

Student Development Committee

Justin Fleming, director of government relations – National Association of Social Workers Association, PA Chapter

PPRS was formed in 1950 to support and elevate the professional standards of public relations practitioners, facilitate professional and social relations among such practitioners and disseminate professional information of benefit to individuals and the profession.  Membership candidacy is open to all persons of good standards of professional practice and ethics who, at the time of their election, earn a major portion of their livelihoods in a recognized field of public relations.

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The award was established by PPRS in 1991 to recognize an individual for sustained excellence in the field of public relations, in both the profession itself and the community. It is presented in memory of the late Senior Vice President of Marketing and Corporate Relations with Capital Health System – today’s Pinnacle HealthSystem. Ernie set the standard for professionalism and community service with his good works and lifetime example.

PPRS Members are encouraged to recommend individuals for consideration by the Society Executive Committee. Names with supporting evidence in qualifying for the award should be submitted to Robert M. Fisher, Chair of the Awards and Installation Committee.

Elena was managing editor for the college newspaper The Spartan, vice president of the National Communications Honor Society Lambda Pi Eta and intern at the Mid-Atlantic Arts Foundation in Baltimore.

A native Russian, Elena plans to devote her career to international public relations with a specific goal of helping corporations enhance their relations with Russia.