2024 Future Public Relations Professional of the Year Award Scholarship

The Public Relations Society of America’s New Jersey Chapter is now accepting entries for the 2023 Future Public Relations Professional of the Year Award scholarship. This annual award recognizes an undergraduate student who demonstrates a sophisticated understanding of and commitment to the public relations profession. The winner will receive a cash scholarship of $3,000, a Certificate of Achievement, and one-year membership for PRSA National and PRSA NJ ($360 value).
 

Eligibility:

Members of the Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) attending a college or university in New Jersey are invited to apply.
 

Judging Criteria:

• Demonstrated leadership

• Essay perspective and writing ability

• Commitment to public relations

• Practical experience (e.g. internships, other work/service, student firm work)
   

Instructions:

• Email pitch should be no more than 250 words and include a catchy headline. Entrants may attach additional resources to support the submission.

• Obtain at least one nomination letter from a professor, PRSSA faculty adviser, internship supervisor, and/or mentor (see your PRSSA chair for the formal Future PR Pro packet, which includes a reference letter guide)

• Attach your résumé
   

Essay Topic:

Your agency has been retained by a prominent lobbying group that is active on behalf of the cannabis industry in New Jersey. The clients need communications support to educate municipal and state officials, parents, and other key stakeholders about the positive impact that a new cannabis industry could have on the State. Currently, there are plans to expand the cannabis industry footprint by five-fold in the next three years.  

Your job is the draft a media pitch that will be used to engage journalists covering this topic. These journalists likely are aware of the debate from all perspectives. It will be critical to frame the discussion to eloquently capture the client’s point of view, grounded in facts that articulate the benefits for patients, recreational users, communities, and the state government.
 

To nominate yourself or a colleague, please submit your essay to Contact Brendan Middleton, 2024 President-Elect, at bmiddleton@mww.com by July 23, 2024.