Ten public relations students from the University of West Florida were recently honored with a Golden Image Award and a Grand All Golden Image Award from the Florida Public Relations Association for their rebranding campaign for the Imogene Theatre in Milton.
The awards were presented at the 2014 Golden Image Awards Gala on Aug. 12 in Orlando, Fla. The annual competition recognizes outstanding public relations programs in Florida to encourage and promote the development of public relations professionalism in the state.
The students were a part of the PR Campaigns class, led by instructor Eileen Perrigo, APR. The class, also known as Wellspring PR, provides students with a simulated agency experience as they compile an extensive public relations campaign for a local nonprofit 501©(3) organization.
"It was a pleasure to work with 10 talented UWF public relations seniors to create a campaign to rebrand the Imogene,” Perrigo said. “Working in tandem for 15 weeks with the client, the students realized the value of teamwork, deadlines and strategic thinking. Receiving the state awards demonstrates their competitiveness in the PR field."
The students involved in the Spring 2014 Campaigns class include: Joe Napier, executive director; Gabrielle Garrett, research director; Zachary Farrington, creative director; Hannah Weinstein, social media director; Brittany Blackburn, PR specialist; Abbey Lelina, PR specialist; Amber Galligher, PR specialist; Betsy Paige, PR specialist; Kali Mann, PR specialist; and Mary Hartshorn, PR specialist.
Galligher, a recent graduate, said this project had a significant impact on her education at UWF.
This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: UWF public relations students win top FPRA state award