Kent State’s Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA Kent) won a Star Chapter Award, and two former executive board members won the 2024 National Gold Key Award for work during the 2023-2024 school year. The national awards were announced during the Awards Ceremony Breakfast at the International Public Relations Student Society Conference in Anaheim, California.
PRSSA Kent has won the Star Chapter Award for 13 consecutive years. This award recognizes PRSSA Chapters demonstrating outstanding practices in programming, community service, media relations, outreach and national involvement.
“It means a lot to be a part of a chapter that achieves and exceeds its goals every year,” PRSSA Kent President Macy Rosen '24 said. “It’s also awesome to receive the award in accompaniment from other Chapters around the world.”
Some highlights of PRSSA Kent’s work include hosting a virtual presentation from a PR professional in Ukraine who discussed her experiences practicing PR during the Russian invasion; a Cleveland Guardians communication executive who shared insights about professionalism and sports PR; a child welfare manager for the American Academy of Pediatrics who conveyed the power of storytelling to advocate for children; a panel discussion focused on responsibly using artificial intelligence; and other speakers representing diverse organizations and issues. PRSSA Kent students also hosted a networking event with more than 20 advertising and PR professionals and 60 students.
Alongside the Star Chapter Award, 2023-2024 PRSSA Kent President and 2024 Kent State graduate Madison Goerl from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and 2023-2024 PRSSA Kent VP of Membership and 2024 Kent State graduate Katherine Masko from Columbus, Ohio, won the National Gold Key Award, PRSSA’s highest individual honor. The National Gold Key Award recognizes students with outstanding leadership qualities and academic excellence within their PRSSA chapter. Goerl also won the National President’s Citation, which recognizes students who have made significant contributions to PRSSA National in addition to their school Chapter.
"To be recognized alongside some of the best and brightest professionals of our generation will forever be an honor,” Goerl said. “I’m proud to be a PR Kent graduate and I’m happy to see that the work being done at Kent State continues to be acknowledged across the nation."
“Receiving the National Gold Key was an honor after putting three years of hard work into helping [PRSSA Kent] grow,” Masko said.
PRSSA Kent now holds 60 national awards, with its earliest win dating back to 1994.
"This national recognition reflects PRSSA Kent’s tradition of outstanding leadership,” Professor and Faculty Adviser Michele Ewing said. “It’s rewarding to watch students invest time outside classes to gain relevant PR experience, network with PR professionals, learn about PR practices and careers, and serve the university and community.”
About PRSSA Kent
The Kent State Chapter of the Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA Kent) was established in 1968 as one of the 14 original Alpha Chapters of PRSSA. The student-run organization collaborates with its parent Chapter, the PRSA Greater Cleveland Chapter, to coordinate meetings and events that offer professional development and networking opportunities to Kent State students interested in the public relations and communications industry. The PRSSA Kent Chapter and the students who participate consistently win national awards, placing the Chapter in the top tier nationwide. For more information about PRSSA Kent, visit www.prssakent.com.
About Kent State University’s Public Relations Sequence
The public relations sequence at Kent State University is part of the School of Media and Journalism, a nationally renowned program that offers degrees in advertising, digital media, journalism and public relations. Kent State boasts the only public relations program in Ohio that is both certified by the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) and accredited by the Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communication (ACEJMC). For more information about Kent State’s public relations sequence, visit www.kent.edu/mdj.
About the Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA)
The Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) is the foremost organization for students interested in public relations and communications. Founded in 1967 by its parent organization, the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA), PRSSA includes nearly 7,000 student members and advisers and is active on nearly 375 colleges and university campuses across the U.S. and in Argentina, Columbia, Peru and Puerto Rico. For more information, please visit www.prssa.org.