UAB’s student-led PRCA/PRSSA chapter awarded STAR Chapter

The student-led PRCA/PRSSA UAB chapter has been awarded STAR Chapter for the fifth year in a row.The Public Relations Society of America has awarded STAR Chapter status to the University of Alabama at Birmingham chapter of the Public Relations Council of Alabama/Public Relations Student Society of America.

This marks the fifth year in a row that the UAB chapter has been accorded this honor.

The PRCA/PRSSA at UAB chapter is a registered student organization and an extension of the academic public relations program in the College of Arts and Sciences' Department of Communication Studies. Students are provided with professional development and networking opportunities, including membership to both PRCA and PRSSA.

Being awarded STAR Chapter status is significant and recognizes the achievements of the chapter over the prior year in:

• Community service in the form of outreach to a local high school as well as at least one specific community service project;
• Emphasis on ethics throughout the year's programs;
• Efforts to include non-public relations students in the organization;
• Attendance at local, state and national meetings and conferences; and
• Meaningful contributions to PRSA.

Students served four local nonprofits through assessment, development and delivery of public relations campaigns, says Jacquelyn S. Shaia, J.D., Ph.D., assistant professor and director of the program. The students worked with each organization to address specific needs and individually design the campaigns.

"The work these young professionals performed for the Holy Family Cristo Rey Catholic High School was very valuable and allowed the school to more effectively communicate with its students and parents," Shaia said. "Their work for two other local nonprofits in the community allowed the organizations to better accomplish their mission of service."

The STAR Chapter Award, for which all chapters in good standing are eligible, encourages chapter leadership to provide programming and relationship-building opportunities for students and rewards them for achieving these goals. This award is becoming the gold standard for chapters trying to achieve excellence, according to PRSA.

This program and its young professional students work hard to live out the UAB values, which include service, commitment and contribution to the community, Shaia says.

"We are honored to have been named a STAR Chapter by this national organization," she said. "I am truly proud of these students and look forward to the tremendous contributions each will make when they graduate and enter the field."

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