A social cause campaign created by nine College of Journalism and Mass Communications (CoJMC) advertising and public relations students won first place in the National Organ Donor Awareness Competition (NODAC). The Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) announced competition results last month at the PRSSA International Conference held in San Diego.
Spring 2019 marks the second year a CoJMC team has participated in the annual competition, sponsored by the Anthony J. Fulginiti PRSSA Chapter at Rowan University, and earned national recognition.
“The impact CoJMC students make on campus to advance social causes and support Nebraskans always merits accolades,” said PR Competitions Adviser Sheri Sallee. “Winning NODAC is such an honor. It’s tremendous to see our ADPR students’ smart, creative work and tireless work ethic recognized in this way.”
The CoJMC team’s research showed the overwhelming majority of UNL students were already registered organ donors. Their campaign “Live On. Give On.” educated UNL students about how organ donors can give the gift of life while they are still living, as the majority of people on the national transplant waiting list need kidney transplants.
More than 700 students were reached with face-to-face communications in classes and at RSO meetings across campus, prior to an all-day event held on the UNL Greenspace last April.
The team surpassed all of its communications goals at the event with 117 students registering their organ donation wishes on the iPhone health app, 50 students completing bone marrow swab kits and 31 unregistered students joining the registry as organ donors.
To learn more about the “Live On. Give On.” event, check out video highlights at http://bit.ly/liveonhuskers1.
The CoJMC team included:
● Cassidy Adolf
● Mia Azizah
● Nick Clauson
● Megan Engel
● Alli Lorensen
● Kaityln Quiring
● Gabby Robbins
● Maddie Schultz
● Josie Sittig
