A team of University of Nebraska-Lincoln College of Journalism and Mass Communications students took third place in the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Invent2Prevent Competition.
The competition challenges students to develop programs that prevent targeted violence and terrorism in their local communities. The competition is open to colleges throughout the United States.
Ten students enrolled in a senior advertising and public relations capstone course in the fall of 2023 entered the competition with an integrated communication campaign, SafeSpace Nebraska. The campaign aims to better educate students about what to do in the event of an active shooter on campus. The students identified underutilized communication channels to reach students and development tactics to engage these channels in reaching students. Their project included a social media campaign, a dedicated website on school shootings, scenario-based training sessions, educational booths in student areas, a petition to include information in class syllabi and information sheets for academic advisors.
The UNL entry was selected as a finalist, and three seniors majoring in advertising and public relations, Kayla Enfield, Lauren Ostrowski and Joselyn Vacek, along with associate professor Bryan Wang, were invited to present their campaign in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 24., where they were awarded third place.
“Experiential learning and student opportunity are at the heart of our educational mission at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Our remarkable journey in the Invent2Prevent Competition underscores the transformative power of education and collaboration,” Wang said. “Through the SafeSpace Nebraska campaign, our students not only addressed a critical issue but also provided students with a platform to make a meaningful impact in our communities.”
The Invent2Prevent competition is a partnership between the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Center for Prevention Programs and Partnerships, EdVenture Partners, Credence Management Solutions and the McCain Institute. The annual competition was launched in 2021, and more than 118 universities from 32 states participated.
"Congratulations to our exceptional team of advertising and public relations students for their outstanding achievement in the Invent2Prevent Competition. Their innovative approach in addressing a critical issue highlights the power of education and collaboration,” said Shari Veil, the Jane T. Olson Dean of the College of Journalism and Mass Communications. “We are immensely proud of their dedication to making our communities safer, and this accomplishment is a testament to the caliber of students we have at UNL."
The following is a list of the student team members by hometown and state. The list includes their year and major.
Nebraska:
- Elkhorn: Lauren Ostrowski, senior, advertising and public relations
- Grand Island: Auni Ortega, 2023 graduate, advertising and public relations
- Lincoln: Kayla Enfield, senior, advertising and public relations; Rahmir Johnson, senior, advertising and public relations; Nyajuma Koung, 2023 graduate, advertising and public relations; Jace Noble, 2023 graduate, advertising and public relations
- Omaha: Joselyn Vacek, senior, advertising and public relations
Elsewhere:
- Highland Village, Texas: Alyssa Micaletti, 2023 graduate, advertising and public relations
- Madison, Wisconsin: Morgan Moll, senior, advertising and public relations
- Shanghai, China: Yiwen Lu, 2023 graduate, advertising and public relations
To learn more about the Invent2Prevent competition, visit https://www.mccaininstitute.org/programs/preventing-targeted-violence/invent2prevent/.
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