Public relations students showcase talent at first Aggie PRO event

April 19, 2005 | Utah State University public relations students will present PR strategy pitches to local and regional business clients in Utah State's first Aggie Public Relations Organization (PRO) event at 10 a.m. April 27 on the university campus.

"Our PR students have worked closely with their clients all semester to develop smart PR campaign plans," said Troy Oldham, lecturer in public relations. "We are excited to showcase their work in a real-world competitive forum."

Seniors and graduate students from Utah State's public relations agency class will provide each client with a comprehensive plan, media kit and a high-level presentation exhibiting the students' creativeness and overall strategy.

"Today, any successful organization includes a significant contribution from public relations practitioners to communicate messages both internally and externally," said Les Roka, assistant professor of public relations who teaches the course with Oldham. 'The agency model shows students the need for public relations' accountability to top management and to a company's overall goals and objectives."

By working with clients on matters of product launches, special event planning and coordination of image-building media campaigns, students have a solid opportunity to experience the real-life challenges of working in a competitive and demanding agency setting, said Roka.

Each group of students will be critiqued by a panel of judges, which includes client representatives, members of the Greater Salt Lake Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) and Utah State faculty.

"Students will be judged on how well they deliver valuable PR plans that include research, well written objectives and comprehensive campaigns," said Oldham.

The winning group will be recognized formally with a departmental award for permanent display.

The Aggie PRO Event will host five clients: Microsoft MSN from Redmond, Wash.; the SCO Group from Linden, Utah; ChemDry from Cache Valley, Utah; AM Todd Biopharmaceuticals and Beaver Mountain/Beaver Creek/Blue Water resorts of Utah's Cache and Bear Lake counties.

The event schedule includes two sessions of student presentations, a question-and-answer period following the presentations and a catered lunch break between sessions. The question-and-answer session following lunch will be from 1:30 to 2:45. This portion of the event will be open to the public. Lunch will be provided by Café Sabor of Logan.

For more information about the event contact Brandon Taylor at (435) 792-3147 or brantaylor@cc.usu.edu. For information concerning the public relations agency class contact Oldham at (435) 764-2979 or Oldhamtroy_@hotmail.com or Roka at (801) 596-7087 or lroka@cc.usu.edu.

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