MSU communication students win top PR awards, recognized for ‘exceptional work’ in field

STARKVILLE, Miss.—A Mississippi State University communication graduate student is among five MSU students recognized at the Southern Public Relations Federation’s conference in Baton Rouge this month, winning “awards of excellence” for exceptional work in the field of public relations in the Southeast region.

SPRF is a network of public relations professionals from Alabama, North Florida, Louisiana and Mississippi created in 1972 to further the professional and networking interests of today’s public relations and communication professionals in private, public and nonprofit businesses and organizations. 

Sarah Colvert, a Huntsville, AL, native and current MSU graduate student was joined by recent MSU graduates Bryanna Trulove, from Tupelo, and Sophia Calderon, from Meridian, for their project, “Cowbell Core,” for the MSU Office of the Provost.

2022 MSU graduates Elly Lamb, from Jackson, and Savannah Munn, from Starkville, received awards of excellence for their work for the Starkville Area Arts Council, “Curating an Online Presence.” 

The award-winning projects were created in spring and fall of 2021 as part of MSU’s student PR agency, PRISM—Public Relations and Integrated Student Media agency.

“We are so proud of the practical and quality work produced by PRISM,” said Communication Instructor Anna Blount, the 2021 faculty advisor for PRISM. “Our PRISM students’ strategic approach to real-world campaigns is receiving the recognition it deserves; moreover, the honor of receiving these awards is further evidence that our department boasts some of the best and brightest students in the public relations field.” 

Winner Sarah Colvert said, “I was honored to attend SPRF and represent MSU’s Department of Communication while networking and tuning up my PR skills. I am so thankful for the abundant opportunities provided to me by MSU to further my professional career.”

 “The public relations concentration has a long history of excellence,” said Terry Likes, professor and head of the Department of Communication. “The faculty do an outstanding job, through their intensive coursework, to prepare students to excel in regional competitions like SPRF. The public relations capstone class, as well as PRISM, offer students the chance to work on campaigns with real-world clients. We are very proud of our student winners.” 

Founded in 1972, the Southern Public Relations Federation is the umbrella organization for the Public Relations Association of Mississippi, Public Relations Council of Alabama, Public Relations Association of Louisiana, and Emerald Coast Public Relations Organization. For more, visit www.sprf.org. 

Part of MSU’s College of Arts and Sciences, more information about the Department of Communication is available at www.comm.msstate.edu. 

MSU is Mississippi’s leading university, available online at www.msstate.edu.