MediaContact:

ToriLawhorn
vlawhorn@indiana.edu
8125258518

IndianaUniversityPublicRelationsStudentSocietyof
AmericaWinsAward,ScholarshipatNational
Conference

FORIMMEDIATERELEASE
Oct.22,2014

WASHINGTON,D.C.ThreeIndianaUniversitystudentsandmembersofthePublicRelations
StudentSocietyofAmericawenttothe2014PRSSANationalConferenceinWashington,D.C.
fromOct.913andreturnedtoBloomington,Ind.withachapterawardandanindividual
scholarship.

ThememberswereIUjuniorandIUPRSSADirectorofCommunications,CatHuynh,IUsenior
andIUPRSSADirectorofAlumniRelations,ErinJohnson,andIUjuniorandIUPRSSA
President,ToriLawhorn.

There,theyreceivedtheStarChapterAward,adistinctionawardthatisgiventochaptersthat
haveatleasteightofthetenrequirementsdesignatedbyPRSSA.Somerequirementsinclude
attentiontoPRSSAethicsstandards,communityserviceprojects,positivechapterattentionin
themedia,andapercentageofgraduatingseniorsapplyingtothePublicRelationsSocietyof
America.

Thisyear,31chaptersalsowonthisaward.ThisisthefourthyearinarowIUPRSSAhaswon
thisaward.

ItwasanhonortobeatPRSSANationalConferenceandreceivetheStarChapterAwardon
behalfofourmembersandalloftheirhardwork,Johnsonsaid.

LawhornwasawardedtheRobinM.UrbanskiMemorialScholarshipfor2014.Thisscholarshipis
designedtohonorastudentforhis/hermentoringofothersandhis/hercommitmenttopublic
relations,accordingtothePRSSAwebsite.

ThescholarshipwasestablishedafterRobinUrbanskiJanikowskipassedawayin2011,
followinga14monthbattlewithcancer.Shewasaseasonedpublicrelationsprofessional,well
respectedbynationalmediaandherinternalclients,forherresponsiveness,tenacityandcandid
approach.

Thisyear,therewere12applicants.Thefirstscholarshipwasawardedin2013.

Imincrediblygratefulforthisscholarship,Lawhornsaid.Iactuallyhopetofollowinher
footstepsrightaftergraduatingfromIUbyapplyingforanEdelmanChicagointernship.Ialso
hopetojoinandbecomeinvolvedwiththeChicagochapterofPRSA,suchasRobindid.She
soundslikeanamazingwomanandIregretnotbeingabletomeetherandlearnfromher.

PRSSANationalConferenceisayearlyeventinwhichPRSSAchapterscangatherto
experiencechapterdevelopmentsessions,lecturesfromseasonedpublicrelations
professionals,andnetworkingopportunitiessuchasthecareerdevelopmentexhibition.
Ketchum,Edelman,andFleishmanHillardwereafewofthepublicrelationsagenciesthathad
representativesatthisyearsconference.AnyPRSSAmemberfromanychapterisableto
attend.

NationalConferencewastheexperienceofalifetime,Johnsonsaid,Thenetworking
opportunitiesandpiecesofadvicefromseasonedprofessionalswillprovetobeinvaluableasI
beginacareerinpublicrelations.

Eachyear,auniversityservesasahostintheirlocalcity.AmericanUniversityhostedthisyear.
Nextyear,NationalConferencewilltakeplaceinAtlanta,Ga.andwillbehostedbytheUniversity
ofGeorgia.

###