University of Nebraska at Omaha
We're number one
PR students claim top chapter award
The UNO chapter of Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) was named the most outstanding student PR group in the nation at a national conference in San Diego.
UNO PRSSA also won a first place award in an ethics advocacy competition. PRSSA's September event is explained in this video.
UNO PRSSA also claimed a third place award in the National Organ Donor Awareness Compeition (NODAC), which UNO has won three times before. Karen Weber, adviser for PRSSA and Maverick Solutions, has been recognized by the campus, Omaha PRSA professionals and the national PRSSA for her work.
PRSSA and the student-run firm Maverick Solutions plan and present numerous events throughout the year, including the recent Voices Against Violence panel in October that focused on intimate partner violence.
UNO PRSSA since 2004 has "won 11 national awards -- eight first place and three third place awards -- pretty awesome within a six-year span," Weber said. The campus chapter has bested large campuses with much larger budgets.
Thirteen students attended the five-day conference in San Diego by raising more than $10,000 through various chapter fundraisers.
UNO PRSSA Students with Advisor Karen Weber in San Diego, CA
Students attending the national conference are all seniors and officers in the UNO PRSSA chapter Maverick PR and/or Maverick Solutions. They include Janna Brock, finance director, Maverick Solutions; Andrea Ciurej, assistant newsletter editor; Bre Gehrken, newsletter editor; Yan He, communication director and Maverick Solutions co-director; Alicia Kettleson, historian; Mikaela Knipe, vice president of networking; Kristen Martin, fundraising director; Jessica Legg, public relations director and Maverick Solutions account executive; Heather Nasif, vice president of recruitment; Cassie Prestia, president and Maverick Solutions assistant director; Jill Sauser, Maverick Solutions co-director; Shannon Stawniak, treasurer; and Sarah Waller, publications director.
For more information, contact Karen Weber, PRSSA faculty adviser at kweber@unomaha.edu (402) 659-4770.