The Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) Greater Salt Lake Chapter announced the winners of the fourth annual Utah PR Student of the Year competition at the Golden Spike Awards for communications professionals.

 

Courtney Lewis, a communications major from Utah State University, took first, with Lauren Lytle (Brigham Young University) placing second and Michael Hanks (Utah Valley University) and Brian Grow (Weber State University) tying for third.

 

More than 20 communications students representing five universities across Utah and into Idaho competed for $1,000 cash prize by completing a full PR plan for the 2009 nonprofit client, Utah Food Allergy Network. In October, students submitted a written strategy, including research, objectives, tactics and a timeline for the Utah Food Allergy Network. A panel of PR professionals judged the entries and selected four finalists from four different universities to present their campaign plan at a day-long competition in Salt Lake City, Nov. 14.

 

“One day of this competition is comparable to what students might learn in a semester PR internship,” said Chad Saley, PRSA Greater Salt Lake Chapter president. “This is a learning experience unlike any other for those preparing for a communications career.”

 

The four finalists formally presented their strategy, pitched a story to seasoned KSL-TV reporter, Jed Boal, wrote a timed press release and managed a crisis situation. The judges asked finalists direct questions about their campaigns and gave one-on-one feedback to the soon-to-be professionals.

 

The competition’s client, Utah Food Allergy Network, is a non-profit organization dedicated to assisting families who have members with food allergies by offering support and resources. Ideas gathered from the competition will be used in Utah Food Allergy Network’s ongoing PR efforts.

 

Past winners of the competition were from Utah Valley University (2008), the University of Utah (2007) and Utah State University (2006).

 

The Public Relations Society of America is the world's largest organization for public relations professionals. The Society has nearly 32,000 professional and student members. PRSA is organized into more than 100 chapters nationwide, including the Greater Salt Lake Chapter. The Greater Salt Lake Chapter includes public relations and communications professionals from the Salt Lake Valley as well as southern Idaho.