May/June 2011 Newsletter

• A Message from the Chair
• Do You Need A Master’s Degree in PR?
• Career Investment: Pursuing a Master’s in PR
• The (Online) Grad Experience
• School’s Out? A Working PR Girl’s Perspective
• Summary Report: “Navigating Your Financial Future” Brown Bag Teleconference
• Member Spotlight
• Resources
• PRSA New Pros Blog – Recent Posts
• Welcome New Section Members

A Message from the Chair

Education vs. Experience

One of the most frequently asked questions by our members is: should I pursue a master’s degree? This month we provide perspectives from

• Fellow new pros who have, or are currently, pursuing an advanced degree
• A new pro who chose to stick to real-world experience, and
• A guide to choosing the right program for you

Have a question for your peers? Post to our Online Discussion Forum, or tweet with our hashtag or @PRSANewPros.
Want to expand your network? Join our LinkedIn or Facebook pages.
Looking to get published? Apply to be a guest blogger.
Want to learn something new? Participate in a brown bag or webinar.

If you have any questions, ideas or feedback please feel free to contact me.

Best,
Sarah Siewert
PRSA New Pros Section Chair

Do You Need A Master’s Degree in PR?
Dr. Brenda J. Wrigley, APR

But the big question: Is it worth it to invest the time and money in earning a master’s degree? Increasingly, the answer is yes.

Good or bad economy, we all need an “edge” — something that puts us one notch above the crowd. That advantage can develop with a number of efforts. Perhaps one you’ve considered is getting a master’s degree. Is it worth it? More on that in a minute.

But first, if you do decide to go this route, what degree should you choose? The answer depends upon a number of things:

• What’s your educational background? Is it in a communications field or liberal arts? Business or the sciences? What gaps do you need to fill in?
• What’s your industry? What kinds of training does your industry demand?
• How are you feeling about your digital skills? Early adopter or just learning how to turn on your new iPad? Or perhaps you’ve resisted embracing technology!
• How will you use your degree? To advance up the ladder or increase your depth in a particular area (like social media or research, for example)?

Once you’ve answered these questions, then decide if you want to take the plunge and go full time or part time. Full-time programs can be completed in as little as 13 months or can take two years or more for Public Relations master’s degrees. There are also programs offering limited residency, such as Syracuse University’s Executive Education Program, which is completed over two years. It’s a hybrid program that was the first of its kind (starting in 1995), offering public relations, business and leadership courses. Some prefer a MBA degree.

Things to look for in graduate programs:

• Is the program/school accredited? This means that every aspect of the program, from instructors to courses to facilities to assessment measures, meets rigorous standards.
• What courses are offered, particularly in a public relations master’s program? Some programs claim to offer all you need until you look under the hood and find no business courses, nothing to equip you with strong research skills and little-to-no exposure to what’s new in digital training.
• Is the program taught online or in residence, either full- or part-time? While online programs may seem more appealing, the dropout rate is staggering and the quality of instruction may be uneven. You really can’t beat the value of in-class interaction with your colleagues and instructors.
• How will you pay for it? Will your employer help foot the bill? Do you qualify for loans or scholarships?
• What is the reputation of the program? Ask colleagues who’ve completed master’s degree programs, both traditional and limited residency. Look at rankings provided by national organizations. The Commission on Public Relations Education reviews programs for both undergraduate and graduate degrees in public relations and is currently reviewing public Relations master’s degree curricula to make recommendations on what to look for in such a program.

Is it worth it to invest the time and money in earning a master’s degree? Increasingly, the answer is yes. Bachelor’s degrees are the norm, and a master’s degree can provide you with an update on theories, research, digital training and the law. It can help you learn to think like a manager, to plan more strategically and speak the language of the boardroom. In short, it’s your edge!

The benefits:

• The opportunity to learn from your colleagues. Some of the best practices that are working for others could easily work for your organization.
• Increasing your value — and the value of your department — to the organization, resulting in increased profits, enhanced reputation and better two-way communication for successful relationship-building programs.
• A chance to re-energize your career — and maybe even take a risk to change industries or start your own firm with the new skills and education you’ve acquired.
• The satisfaction of knowing you invested in yourself—the best place to invest!
• The role model you’ll be for your children and your colleagues back at the office.

Want to learn more? Click here for more information. And one more thing: Think you’re too old to go back for a master’s degree? Think again. Today’s students sometimes return for such a degree after 10+ years in the field. The smart ones know that you never really stop learning!

Dr. Wrigley is Chair of the Department of Public Relations & Director of the Graduate Program in Public Relations at the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University.

 
Career Investment: Pursuing a Master’s in PR
Karina Alderete

It’s a balancing act and it takes a huge commitment to dedicate the time and energy for school, but it’s been the best career decision and investment I’ve made.

Ever since I graduated with my Bachelor’s in film & television from the University of Notre Dame, I knew I would go back to school for my master’s degree, but I wasn’t in a hurry. In the seven years I spent working in a newsroom, I didn’t need a graduate school education to move up the ranks as a producer. It wasn’t until I left the world of local television news for a career in public relations that I realized it was time to head back into the classroom. Even though I found the transition from writing scripts, building shows, booking segments, interviewing guests to writing media releases, coordinating events, managing communications and engaging stakeholders to be fairly smooth, I knew there was more to community relations than what I was already doing as part of my job. 

After researching a number of programs, I chose a virtual classroom mostly because of the flexibility, but also because it gave me access to experienced educators and one of the nation’s best programs. The Strategic Public Relations Master’s in Professional Studies program at George Washington University’s School of Political Management incorporates an online learning module, videos, group projects and chats with working professionals in the industry to create an engaging learning environment. The classes are six weeks long, two per semester, with a two week break in between. My instructors and facilitators have worked in communications and public relations for years, and their insights have been an invaluable addition to my education. I’m also learning with students from all over the U.S. and all over the world. We’ve shared our ideas, perspectives and formed friendship along the way. With four classes under my belt, I’m about one third of the way through, and I’m amazed at how quickly time is flying by.

Having been out of college for 11 years, I had some doubts when I started the program last fall. Am I disciplined enough to handle the workload? Can I balance work, school, my husband, family, volunteer work and everything else life brings? Will I learn as much online as I would in a standard classroom? Once I read through the first lecture, I found the answer to all those questions. Yes, I can do it! It’s a balancing act and it takes a huge commitment to dedicate the time and energy for school, but it’s been the best career decision and investment I’ve made. My self-confidence as a young professional gets a boost with each class I take. I’m approaching projects at work with a strategic mindset, working more efficiently, and I have an increased sense of responsibility and focus to do my best.

My graduate school coursework has provided a solid foundation to grow as a public relations professional. Every class opens another door of opportunity in my career and the exciting part is that I still have more to learn before I graduate next summer. Knowledge is power, and with an education, the possibilities you create for yourself are endless.

Karina Alderete is serving her second term on the PRSA San Antonio Chapter board and is the 2011 PRSA Del Oro Horizon Award Winner, an honor given to professionals who have demonstrated professionalism and significant accomplishment in fewer than five years in public relations.  Karina is currently the community relations manager at the San Antonio Convention & Visitors Bureau where she manages local media relations, partner communications and programs, and special events. Prior to joining the SACVB in 2007, Karina was a news and lifestyle producer at the NBC affiliate in San Antonio, Texas. She graduated from the University of Notre Dame with a Bachelor of Art in Film & Television.

The (Online) Grad Experience 
Ashlee Tate

The most important thing I have learned through this process is that balance is the most important goal when you incorporate life and school because both are invaluable.

Why I Chose to Pursue Graduate Studies

As a recent undergraduate and soon-to-be new mother I knew that I wanted to change my career path from health care administration to the field of communications. Six months prior to beginning my graduate program in communications, I delivered my first child. Little did I know that the first six months of motherhood would be the easiest. Just prior to this epiphany, I’d made the decision to begin graduate studies through Gonzaga University’s online communications program. Fortunately I was able to juggle an infant, part time work and school.

Unfortunately, my undergraduate degree was completed in health care administration, which was so far from anything I actually wanted to do. At the time I thought it “sounded” better than communications, and boy was I wrong. In a way, the graduate program gave me a fresh start to a new career path.
 
The Grad School Experience

Since my experience is a little different, as this graduate program was provided online, I had a few challenges that were somewhat abnormal. Understanding that teachers are not as easily accessible was difficult for me to adjust to. Typically, there are either concrete office hours or school days in which you will have the ability to speak with your professor. Online, nothing is immediate. Emailing the teacher a question or awaiting feedback can take at least a day to receive an answer, albeit the question can be asked at any time, which is convenient for the student. There are not any office hours to sit down and discuss an issue the student may have or receive clarification rather than emailing back and forth.

In addition, when working on a group project or awaiting a response to a post on Blackboard, response times vary tremendously without an alert from the system. For example, I may post something to Blackboard requiring a response, but I would have no idea when the response had arrived, such as on Facebook or Twitter. Therefore you either must keep constantly checking Blackboard or accidentally forget about the post. I found that this does not create a cohesive and collaborative environment for students. Most of the students were working, parents, or just plain busy, so many of the posts went unanswered or unopened.

One of the nice elements of the program was the practicum requirement. Students are required to spend three days in Spokane on the campus with the same teachers that direct and teach the program. I completed my practicum toward the end and wished I'd done it earlier in order to learn and know a little more about the teachers teaching my courses. This was the best portion of the program, due to the ability to meet other students, teachers and make contacts that have continued outside of the program.

Since graduating with a master’s degree was a pretty big deal to both me and my family, I opted to walk with the rest of the school in their graduation ceremony and absolutely relished the experience. Again, this was a time of connecting with students and teachers alike, which added multiple beneficial layers to the experience.

As a caveat for those looking to enter an online program: working on your own time does not translate to working at your own pace. My program had pretty rigorous reading schedules and papers at least once a week, which included research and presentations, along with postings about other subject matter.

Challenges and Rewards

Some of the hardest challenges were prioritizing family and school. Looking back on the experience, I can see how much of a strain it put on my family, although, I would still do it all over again. The rewards far outweigh the challenges if you always attempt to achieve balance. 

When I decided to attend school I didn’t consider life’s curve balls and we definitely had our fair share. Some of our “bumps in the road” were:  moving to a new city, expecting our second child and setting up my husband’s medical practice. Without all of our “bumps” the process probably would have been painless, but things aren’t so easy when life happens.

The End

Now that my journey has come to an end, I realize that I have made the right decision for my family. My daughter is now four years old and my son is 20 months and I know that if I’d waited to begin the program, I probably never would have taken the leap. Kids and school by themselves are exhausting, so you can imagine what it was like doing both.

As for my career, I have not seen the fruits of my labor as of yet since I have just completed my thesis. But I know that I have received a good educational foundation and look forward to what the future has in store. I am currently looking for a mentor as I begin working in the field of PR and strategic communications.

I plan to focus on building a business, family and hobbies. The most important thing I have learned through this process is that balance is the most important goal when you incorporate life and school because both are invaluable.

I have no regrets about my graduate experience and would love to answer any questions about the program.

Ashlee Tate is the Section Liaison for the PRSA New Professionals Section. She is currently working as a freelance public relations and strategic communication consultant. Her interests lie in the areas of cause-related marketing, authentic relationship building, branding, and corporate social responsibility communications.


School’s Out? A Working PR Girl’s Perspective.
Eva Aivaliotis

At this time, my full-time work is all I need, and fulfills me in a way I think graduate school just can’t right now.

Like many undergrads, I had every intention of going to grad school. A continuation of my education seemed only natural and was in line with the rest of my family. Both of my parents have master’s degrees in their respective fields. I wasn’t being pressured by any means, but I thought it would be good to follow suit.

As perpetual students early in life, we spent most of our lives within the walls of a classroom, had some fun and had some challenges, and didn’t know anything else. Yes, I was passionate about learning new things, interacting with peers, teachers, then professors, and getting excited about finally “growing up.” In fact, I had never had a real job until I graduated from college. A full-time, salaried job, that is. My first paying job was working part-time for the university paper. I remember how exciting and satisfying it was to receive that first check in the mail. Someone was paying me for my knowledge and skills but I was learning from them at the same time. The exchange was so gratifying.

But I had a hankering to get my feet wet first in the professional world. For what length of time, I didn’t know. After graduating, I was convinced that I could keep the momentum going for more schooling even if I worked for two years or so. For some reason—maybe it was hearing about some first-job horror stories — I just didn’t think I’d get sucked into the profession and never want to go back to school. So I put together my little portfolio and set out there. That was five years ago.

I entered the full-time PR practitioner’s world. My first job was at a small agency that catered to non-profit clients. It was satisfying and I learned my fair share, but it wasn’t until I got my second job a year and a half later that I truly fell in love with my work and felt like each day was an education itself. I took a position where I had previously interned, the San Antonio Convention & Visitors Bureau. In fact, it was a fluke that I ended up interning there in the first place during my last year of college. To my pleasant surprise, I discovered that I had quickly fallen in love with tourism PR. You could say that I had found my calling. I knew that was the industry in which I wanted to work.

In a way, I feel that I lucked out. Sometimes a great job just comes along in an unexpected way, in this case, via the internship. I wake up every morning and think, wow, I work in media relations division the San Antonio tourism industry. I promote and learn about all of the exciting things our rapidly changing city has to offer. But beyond our great product, the inner workings of my daily office life are what fulfill me and help me grow. Every day, my job challenges me and allows me to acquire knowledge from everyone I interact with — my stellar boss, colleagues, local partners, other PR practitioners, journalists from all over the world. Every day I’m sharpening my pitching, writing, digital strategy and research skills. Evolving along with the tourism and PR industries, while being immersed in them, is immensely gratifying.

My feeling is your career can be your education. Who says your office can’t be your classroom? You can be in the trenches full- or part-time and acquire knowledge and skills that will take you far. Plus, I feel I can continue to build on those valuable relationships I’ve started with journalists and other professionals. They are laying the foundation of becoming a well-respected, trustworthy and important resource journalists and digital influencers will turn to.  

One of the keys is to seek out those who you learn from and trust the most and have a mentor in your field. Let your natural curiosity get the best of you and ask questions of those you interact with. Ask your boss to give you that extra project or volunteer to work overtime so you can get more experience. As for my extra time, I just choose to spend it differently than in a virtual classroom. Instead, I focus on personal projects of mine, like my new culinary blog. That extra time and energy gets channeled into productive hobbies rather than school.

At this time, my full-time work is all I need, and fulfills me in a way I think graduate school just can’t right now. My job isn’t perfect, but wow, it would be pretty darn close if I could do anything I wanted. As a professional, I have undoubtedly seen my growth in the past three years. I want to have two feet firmly planted in this industry, and with the huge support and encouragement of those I work with, it’s possible to grow as a professional without necessarily having to go to grad school.

Of course, there are so many variables here and every young pro has different career goals and life goals. I just haven’t had the grad school itch yet. Just because I don’t have a master’s degree doesn’t mean I’m dumber, less ambitious or not as successful than my colleagues or peers pursuing postgraduate study. It just means that I’m satisfied with where I’m at right now. However, this is by no means definitive. I’ve just been out of school for five years, so who knows how I will feel in the next few years. But one thing is for sure—I’m excited about the future as I continue to grow as a PR practitioner!

School’s out for summer now.

Eva Aivaliotis is the Newsletter Editor for the PRSA New Professionals Section. She is the senior communications assistant at the San Antonio Convention & Visitors Bureau. She has a BA in International Communication – Advertising/PR from the Schieffer School of Journalism at Texas Christian University. She blogs on the San Antonio culinary scene at mesaamesa.wordpress.com.


Summary Report : “Navigating Your Financial Future” Brown Bag Teleconference
Heather Sliwinski, PRSA New Pros Section Blog Co-Chair

The PRSA New Professionals Section held their first brown bag teleconference, “Navigating Your Financial Future,” with financial advisor Jim Beverley on April 21.  In case you missed it, Beverley covered four main topics directly affecting new professionals: student loans, credit scores, retirement savings and budgeting. PRSA New Pros’ Twitter hashtag (#npprsa) tracked the conversation surrounding Beverley’s most valuable advice.

Student Loans
A huge burden today, student loans come in all shapes and interest rates. Half of all students leave college with student loans, so you are not alone. Three things to keep in mind when graduation comes are:

• DO: organize the loans you have by interest rate. Pay the loan with the highest interest rate first and work down the list from there.
• DON’T: miss a payment.
• DO: speak with a tax advisor, usually a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), to see if you qualify for the Student Loan Interest Deduction to keep some money in your pocket come tax time.

Click here for more tips.

Credit Score
A credit score’s purpose is to facilitate lender interest in lending you money in the future, based on your debt history. Credit scores are usually calculated using the following information — your debt-to-income ratio and the timeliness of payments. A general rule of thumb for keeping an attractive debt-to-income ratio is borrowing or spending less than 50 percent of your income each month. If you possess a mortgage, the entire monthly payment should be no more than 33 percent to 36 percent of your gross income. If you borrow too much over your income, the likelihood of lenders loaning you the money you need decreases.

Regular payments made on time will likely increase your credit score. Just be aware, if you always pay the full balance on time every month, lenders might be hesitant to loan you money because they may not make as much interest from you. 

To assess your credit score, visit Experian.com. Generally, any score above 750 is considered excellent, 700 to 750 is considered good, and below 700 has some areas for improvement.

Retirement Strategy
Start saving early. Let me repeat: start saving early! Need more motivation? Beverley provided these compelling statistics:

Based on an assumed 8 percent growth rate, to retire at age 65 with $1 million in savings:

• A 25-year-old would have to save $300 per month
• A 35-year-old would have to save $700 per month
• A 45-year-old would have to save $1686 per month
• A 55-year-old would have to save $5326 per month

So start saving now, and leave it alone. Take advantage of employer incentives. Normally, companies provide a retirement plan through paycheck deductions. Sometimes, they may even match your contributions. Do everything possible to take your employer’s money. (No worries — they receive a benefit as well).

Budgeting
Beverley suggested a strategy for saving based on three time frames: immediate or short-term, intermediate and long-term.

• For the near future, accumulate enough funds for three to six months of spending in cash. (Or, funds that are instantly available to you.  If you lose your job, you will have the peace of mind knowing you can survive until you find a new position.)
• For the long-term, save for your retirement. 
• Finally, for the intermediate future, save for buying your next home, car, vacation or business. Make sure you plan to save enough for whatever your goals are for the near future.

Overall, people spend next year’s raise before they have it. Once you save for these important aspects of your life, you can then decide where and how to spend the rest of your money. For more sample budgets, visit The Nest.

Beverley recommends everything in moderation. As @AnnaCramer1 tweeted: “Save some money every month, pay some debt off every month and most importantly: live within your means!”


Member Spotlight
Jessica Lawlor
Internal Communication Coordinator, Cancer Treatment Centers of America

Type(s) of work performed:
As internal communication coordinator at Cancer Treatment Centers of America (CTCA) in Philadelphia, my main responsibility is communicating with our various internal audiences, including patients, employees, leadership and the oncology information specialists who speak to prospective patients on the phone. Specifically, I work on a monthly employee magazine and a weekly inspirational tool for all hospital employees, as well as work alongside hospital leadership on a variety of communication projects. Strong internal communication can have a huge impact on an organization: informed, happy and engaged employees are more likely to become advocates for the brand outside of work. Plus, knowing what’s going on in the hospital allows me to help my colleagues on the public affairs team to gather content that is shared externally through a variety of communication channels. In addition to my internal communications responsibilities, I also have the opportunity to interview patients for communications efforts, brainstorm story ideas for the media, coordinate media outreach and interviews, assist in media training hospital spokespeople, write speeches, plan events and help develop social media strategies for CTCA.

Specializations or areas of interest:
Social media, internal communication, employee communications, writing, editing.

Educational background:
In May 2010, I graduated from Temple University with a degree in Strategic and Organizational Communication with a focus in public relations. During my time at Temple, I found my passion for public relations and communications. I quickly got involved in PRSSA where I worked my way up from a committed member to secretary my junior year, and to president my senior year. During my sophomore year, I co-founded PRowl Public Relations, Temple University’s first and only student-run PR firm where I furthered my experience in public relations which led to five internships (Metro Philadelphia, LevLane Public Relations, Come Recommended, American Cancer Society and freelancing for young adult author Kristin Walker).

Hobbies:
I love reading and writing and write a book review blog. Recently, I ran my first 5K. I’ve caught the running bug and am currently training for another 5K. I also love yoga and zumba.

Community Service or Extracurricular Activities:
PRSA member, social media chair and blog editor for the Philadelphia Public Relations Association, board member of the Temple University Young Alumni Association.

Awards/Honors:
Graduated Magna Cum Laude from Temple University, Recipient of the 2010 Philadelphia Public Relations Association Dr. Jean Brodey Student Achievement Award, Recipient of the 2009 Maxine Edelson Elkin Scholarship for an outstanding public relations student.

Mentors that have had the greatest impact on you and why:
I’m fortunate to have many mentors. I consider my current boss Julia Scherer an amazing mentor; she has made my transition from student to young professional extremely smooth and I’ve learned so much from her along the way. Gregg Feistman, my professor at Temple University and PRSSA Faculty Advisor mentored me during my time as PRSSA president and helped me prepare for the job search. Meredith Avakian, a former Temple University PRSSA president encouraged me to get more and more involved with PRSSA and has continued to motivate me now that I’ve graduated.

Memorable moment in your PR career so far:
The most memorable moment in my PR career so far was being involved in planning Celebrate Life, CTCA’s annual event which honors five-year cancer survivors. The day began with a tree planting and dove release at a local park before returning to the hospital for a day-long celebration with delicious food and plenty of music and dancing. Our survivors also had the opportunity to participate in Hope Rounds where they handed out pins to patients currently fighting cancer at the hospital. This year, we celebrated 49 inspiring cancer survivors; I had the opportunity to hear their stories and share them with the media and on CTCA’s Facebook and Twitter pages. Being part of this special event reminded me of why I enjoy working at CTCA; every day I come to work and know that what I do makes a difference to people fighting cancer.


Resources

Grad School Programs to Explore

Editor’s Note: While public relations education is growing and evolving, and graduate degree programs are increasingly offered, rankings for these relatively new programs can be hard to find. Below you’ll find just a sampling of well-respected programs in the country.

Compiled by Jessica Lawlor, New Pros Section Member.


New York University
Master of Science in Public Relations and Corporate Communication: Combines theory with real world experience.

University of Maryland
Master of Science in Public Relations
Designed to meet needs of both entry level employees, as well as the working professional.

Syracuse University, S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications
Master of Science in Public Relations
Students complete a professional internship, and many students begin right after undergraduate or students typically have five or fewer years experience in the real world.

Michigan State University
Master of Science in Public Relations

Rowan University
Master of Arts in Public Relations
Rowan’s program is broken into three parts: corporate PR, educational PR and public affairs.

University of Miami
Master of Arts in Public Relations


Additional Resources

PRSSA’s Education Page
PRSA Teleseminars/Webinars Calendar



PRSA New Pros Blog – Recent Posts

Check out our latest blog entries written by New Pros for New Pros!
We invite members of the New Pros Section to contribute posts to our blog, and we invite everyone, including non-members, to contribute comments. Blog posts may consist of career advice, personal experience, case studies and more. If you are interested in contributing, please reach out to Blog Chairs Heather Sliwinski or Diahnn Henderson.

Visit the PRSA New Pros Blog


The Dos and Don’ts of Building a Media Contact List by Noelle Pennyman

7 Crucial Job Search Tactics to Land an Entry-Level Job by Heather Huhman

Intro to Military PR by Lt. Colonel Ann Peru Knabe, APR+M

Navigating Your Financial Future: Tweets from the Brown Bag by Heather Skiwinski

Navigating Your Financial Future: Q&A with New Pros Brown Bag Speaker Jim Beverley by Heather Sliwinski

Event PR: the Original Mobile Marketing by Andrea Nourse

Welcome New Section Members
The following members have joined the New Professional Section in April and May. You can view the entire Section roster on the PRSA Member Directory.

Andie Katelyn Adams, Scribe Communications, San Diego, Calif.
Alexandra W. Arute, Columbia, S.C.
Cassandra Joy Balasubramanian, Ball Ground, Ga.
Lydia Barnett, Starkville, Miss.
Samantha Baudhuin, Hillstrom Communications, Sturgeon Bay, Wis.
Nicole Bays, East Lansing, Mich.
Amanda Beard, The Woodlands, Texas
Caitlin Benn, Sharp HealthCare, San Diego, Calif.
James Bernabe-Edwards, California State University, Fullerton Riverside, Calif.
G'Nai Blakemore, Time Warner Cable, Coppell, Texas
Terry Bohannon, Littleton, Colo.
Andrew Michael Brown, Manassas, Va.
Elaine Bussjaeger, Adfero Group, Fairfax, Va.
Kathelin Buxton, Fort Worth, TX
Francis Choe,  Hawaii State Senate, Honolulu, Hawaii
Kristen Cole-Ford, California State University Los Angeles, Los Angeles, Calif.
Deborah Counsman, Selinsgrove, Pa.
Caitlin Curran, Kenmore, Wash.
LeAnn  Dickens, Clay Center for the Arts & Sciences of WV, Charleston   W.Va.
Audrey M. Edgerton, Denver, Colo.
Kelley Forrest, Synageva BioPharma Corp., Lexington, Mass.
Allison McKenna Francis, Boston, Mass.
Neysa Gamboa, University of Texas, San Antonio, San Antonio,  Texas
Dyana  Marie Gutierrez, Philosophy Communication, Denver, Colo.
Elizabeth Haag, Miami Beach, Fla.
Whitney Haber, Lee University, Chattanooga, Tenn.
Katherine Hart, Colangelo and Partners PR, Brooklyn, N.Y.
Adam Lee Hazelwood, Sandston, Va.
Will Hodges, Tuscaloosa, Ala.
James  Francis Hoff Carmel, Ind.
Rachel Holmes, New York, N.Y.
Chelsea Joy Horrigan, The Chicago Lighthouse, Chicago, Ill.
Devin Hughes, Ohio University, Ostrander, Ohio
Krystal Hughes, Honeywell, Oak Lawn, Ill.
Michelle Isacson, Washington State University, Kenmore, Wash.
Danielle Janis, Archway, Rogers, Mich.
Ana Kamal, Fahrenheit Technology, Glen Allen, Va.
Alexandra Katherine Karolyi, Washington, DC
Reanna R. Karousis, Care Alliance Health Center, Cleveland, Ohio
Justin Kenny, Purdue University, Elgin, Ill.
Francie King, Alexander Group, San Francisco. Calif.
Krista   Louise  Knabenbauer, Faith Technologies, Inc., Menasha, Wis.
Wendy Marie Knipp, Peoria, Ariz.
Jessica Marie Knutzon, Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, Chevy Chase, Md.
Anton Krajicek, Saint Petersburg, Fla.
Jillian Landon, Jacksonville, Fla.
John J. Leiby, The Ohio State University, Fremont, Ohio
Alicia Leupp, University of Southern California, Annenberg School for Communication, Los Angeles, Cailf.
Samantha Lin, Margolis & Tisman LLP, Los Angeles, Calif.
Brittany Rae Loeber, Cancer Treatment Centers America, Tulsa, Okla.
Stephanie Lough, HMA Public Relations, Phoenix, Ariz.
Barry J. Love,  Weston, Conn.
Erika Ann Ludwig, Georgia State University, Atlanta, Ga.
Keri Lyons, University of Georgia, Cumming, Ga.
Mary Rose M. Macaranas, Arketi Group, Morrow, Ga.
Taylor MacKenzie, Lakeville, Minn.
Rebecca Sutton Maguire, Maguire Media Group, LLC., Bristow, Va.
Amanda McConnell, Tulsa Metro Chamber, Tulsa, Okla.
Michael S. McGurk, Springfield, Va.
Courtney Layne Meeks,  cocoabeens communications, Memphis, Tenn.
Starr M. Miller, Chemung Canal Trust Company, Elmira, N.Y.
Julia Miller, Minneapolis, Minn.
Kou Moore, Peppersoup Media, Montgomery Village, Md.
Ali Myers, Ohio University, Alliance, OH
Christina Marie Nordquist, Annese & Associates, Inc., Rochester, N.Y.
Jennifer Occean, The National Council of La Raza, Washington, DC
Summer Paris, Younger Associates, Jackson, Tenn.
Elizabeth Parker, The Eisen Agency, Newport, Ky.
Jenna Passalacqua, Eugene, Ore.
Christopher Pellegrino, Greenwich, Conn.
Laura Perdew California State University, Dominguez Hills, Irvine, Calif.
Cari Elizabeth Perez, Miramar Beach, Fla.
Julienne Peterson, Northville, Mich.
Whitney Nicole Ping, Imre, Indianapolis, Ind.
Elizabeth Ann Polito, Big Cat Communications, Plainfield, Ill.
Sophia Monica Reza,  Seattle, Wash.
Kara Robinson, Cedar Falls, Iowa
Erica Elizabeth Rose, N. Chapman Associates, Inc., Arlington, Va.
Melanie Rosenberg, Kristy Ozmun Public Relations, Austin, Texas
Mitchell Rubenstein, CARMA International, Washington, DC
Stephanie Ryan, Minneapolis, Minn.
Daina Salayon, Troy, Mich.
Ashley  Lauren Saunders, Accellos, Inc., Hebron, Conn.
Brittany Senary, Progressive Insurance  Boardman, Ohio
Ashley Showen, Cross Lanes, W. Va.
Jackeline O. Silva, True Emotions, LLC, Humacao, Puerto Rico
Jessica R. Simpson, Swanson Russell Associates, Lincoln, Neb.
Sigrid L. Smith, Self Regional Healthcare, Greenwood, S.C.
Amanda Jayne Smith, Encinitas, Calif.
Anna Stein, Michele Clark Entertainment, Sherman Oaks, Calif.
Alisha Nicole Stewart, Atlanta, Ga.
Michelle Elizabeth Stewart, PMS2, Inc., Phoenix, Ariz.
Evan Allen Strange, Indianapolis Convention & Visitors Association, Indianapolis, Ind.
Kaylee Virae Sturm, Robert Morris University, Beaver, Pa.
Cynthia Sun, Los Angeles, Calif.
Emma Swanson, Lincolnshire, Ill.
Jordan Rose Symington, Sorrento Hotel, Seattle, Wash.
Charles Bernard Taylor, Velcon Filters LLC, Colorado Springs, Colo.
Jennifer Thach, El Monte, Calif.
Alondra Thomas, Shippensburg University, Lancaster, Pa.
Christopher Thorne, OVOW Media Ltd., Alexandria, Va.
Neli Tokleh, University of North Texas, Flower Mound, Texas
Jessica Wahaus, Leavenworth, Kan.
Julie Louise Walsh, Walker Sands, Chicago, Ill.
Kristin Webb,   Leslie Kline Lukas & Associates Omaha, Neb.
Melissa Weinberger, Godwin Group, Gulfport, Miss.
Jennifer Whitaker, Salt Lake City, UT
Shelly Lynne Williams, Laurel Md.
Elizabeth Jean Wilson, Alpine School District, American Fork, Va.
Heidi Elizabeth Worker, Chartway FCU, Emeryville, Calif.