Strate named 2009 JacksonSpalding/PRSSA Outstanding Senior

Katherine Strate was named the 2009 Jackson Spalding/PRSSA Outstanding Graduating Senior on Thursday, April 23. Strate, the daughter of Tom and Kelle Strate of Morristown, Tenn., will graduate on May 9, from The University of Georgia with a Bachelor of Journalism degree in public relations.

The award, given by Jackson Spalding Athens and the Public Relations Student Society of America, each year recognizes a senior who has made outstanding contributions to the organization. Strate has served on the executive board for PRSSA for two years, as vice president of committees and membership, and as Webmaster.

“Katherine is the real face of PRSSA,” Dr. Betty Jones, faculty advisor, said. “She has represented us with professionalism and enthusiasm and has inspired younger members who are interested in careers in public relations with her creativity and innovation.

Brian Brodrick, who established the Athens office of Jackson Spalding, presented the award. Strate interned for him last summer.

“When we hire interns, we look for students with a force of personality and the talent to serve our clients,” Brodrick said.  ”Katherine had both. She was an incredible asset to our clients, the Athens community and our office in her time with us.  She raised the bar for all interns at Jackson Spalding in Athens.”

The award comes with $100 for the recipient to join a professional organization following graduation.

Two other students were recognized as PRSSA Members of the Year.

Kaitlyn Darr, a senior from Columbus, Ohio, has served this year as the director of Creative Consultants, PRSSA’s student-run PR firm. Creative Consultants provides free PR services to 23 clients in Athens-Clarke County. More than 100 PRSSA members are involved on Creative Consultants teams.

“Kaitlyn has worked tirelessly throughout the year to give Creative Consultants a much-needed face lift,” Dr. Jones said. “She values and respects the needs of the client while providing students with a good learning experience.”

Leslie Emanuele, a graduating senior from McDonough, Ga., has served this year as PRecedent editor, PRSSA’s monthly newsletter. “Leslie designed an impressive, informative newsletter for our organization this year. And she is always ready to help wherever we have needed her. Leslie has been a great team player for PRSSA.

With more than 230 members, PRSSA is the largest student organization in the Grady College at the university.

Help out a fellow PRSSA member (and contribute to the community, too.)

Here’s a love note from PRSSA member Alyssa DeHayes:

I am collecting shoeboxes (decorated preferably), unused toiletry products (see image for list) notes of encouragement and Valentines Day decorating supplies.

For our Valentine’s Day party at Jackson Spalding this Friday, we will be decorating and filling these shoe box care packages.

I will be collecting items at tonights PRSSA meeting.

The project runs until Mother’s Day, so any donations received after Thursday will be taken to United Way in Atlanta next time I visit.

Over the summer, during my internship at United Way, I became very familiar with this event by researching and writing the PRSA Phoenix Award submission for best press kit. The press kit sent to journalists was a sample decorated shoe box. Inside were sample toiletry items, with notes attached from a homeless woman’s perspective. Attached to a washcloth, “Communal showers are uncomfortable. Having my own washcloth makes me feel better.” On the wet wipes, “These wipes keep my face clean for job interviews and my child clean for school.” Attached to a pair of warm socks, “It is important to care for my feet, since I do a great deal of walking during the days and nights, often carrying my child.”

Becoming familiar with this project made me a huge supporter of the cause. We take little things like band-aids and feminine products for granted, but it is hard to imagine living without them.

If you would like to host a shoe box party of your own, I can send you more information, and bring the finished boxes to Atlanta for you. This is great for a Sunday school class, a Girl Scout troup, a sorority sisterhood event or a Creative Consultants team building afternoon.

No wonder people love us.

I just have to say on behalf of the ENTIRE E-board that our Creative Consultants teams absolutely ROCK!!!!!

Guys, if you weren’t there, you missed the most impressive client work I’ve ever seen.  Listening to each presentation made me realize that we TRULY are Democracy’s Next Generation.

The client interactions, presentations, speaking skills, progress, creativity, professionalism and TEAMWORK made me so, incredibly proud to be a part of PRSSA at our wonderful university.

I left Sanford Hall on a total public relations high just thinking about all the GOOD we are doing in the world.  Whether it’s for a nonprofit, a sports team, our college, or whatever, you’re spreading the Gospel of Grady in such a positive light.

Also, thanks to our wonderful judges, Justin Pettigrew, Dr. Russell, Dr. Reber and Ashley Harp from Jackson Spalding for being so attentive and asking great questions.  We couldn’t have done it without you!

Last but not least, I think Ms. Kaitlyn Darr needs a round of applause. I have never seen such impeccable organization and running the show.  She did an amazing job, and it’s all because she loves her Creative Consultants babies so much.

So, job well done, troops. Now get back to studying for whatever, but get back to it with a positive peace of mind. “You done me proud!”

Love,

Katherine

Meeting Tonight!

Hey everyone!

Tonight at 6:30 p.m. in the Miller Learning Center (SLC), we will have Brian Brodrick from Jackson Spalding speaking about an assortment of topics!

Jackson Spalding is an image creation and cultivation firm based in Atlanta that has a satellite office here in Athens.  Brian works in the Athens office along with five other team members.

I actually interned with Jackson Spalding in Athens this summer, and I can tell you it was one of the best experiences of my life.  That saying, JS always has internships, so this would be a great opportunity to come and network!

Well, there you go.  6:30. MLC 101.  TONIGHT.

Be there.

Another year will soon begin.

As much as we don’t want to admit it, the fall ‘08 semester will soon be in our midst. So, just what have PRSSA-ers been doing all summer?

• Past president Abby Blaylock has found a job full-time working at Jackson Spalding in Atlanta.
• Sydney Carroll, last year’s PRecedent editor is working for Lockheed-Martin in Fort Worth, Texas.
• This year’s president, Stephanie Perrett, has been interning in Atlanta with the Spizman Agency in Atlanta.
• Our Creative Consultants director, Kaitlyn Darr, has been actively recruiting new clients and is now at Oxford University studying with the Grady program.
• Aaron Barton, our treasurer, is living the French life. We are so jealous!
• Past member and Bateman Team member, Jarek Beem, graduated (whew!) and is now working for Solvay Pharmaceuticals in Atlanta.
• Past president, Lizzie Azzolino, has spent her summer interning with Jackson Spalding in Athens, Ga. She has also been doing freelance public relations work with a firm in New York City.
• Past webmaster, Kelly Jones, is now working full time at Plexus Web Design in Athens. She knew all the Web site stuff would pay off one day!

That’s just a few of our friends, but we know SO many of you have been doing fun things this summer.

Let us know what you’ve been up to!