Nebraska’s PRSSA chapter earns national Star Chapter Award

Thursday, July 11, 2024 - 10:00am

The University of Nebraska-Lincoln's Public Relations Student Society of America Chapter received the 2024 Star Chapter Award from PRSSA National for its excellence in programming and service. The award is considered the gold standard for college-level chapters striving to achieve excellence.

Throughout the 2023-2024 academic year, UNL PRSSA students show their commitment to the highest chapter and campus leadership standards. For example, in April, the team organized a chapter trip to Chicago to explore professional opportunities in public relations. Students toured national advertising and public relations firms like Weber Shandwick, Leo Burnett, Havas and Edelman and connected with UNL alumni living and working in Chicago.

"I am incredibly proud of our chapter's accomplishments over the past year. Receiving the 2024 Star Chapter Award is a testament to our members' dedication, hard work and passion for public relations,” said Ella Stine, incoming PRSSA chapter president and junior advertising and public relations major. “Our trip to Chicago was a highlight, providing invaluable professional insights and connections with industry leaders and UNL alumni."

The award requires chapters to meet at least eight of 11 requirements, including community service work, positive media exposure and dedicating at least one club meeting to an ethical topic. Valerie Uribe, who graduated this past May, served as UNL PRSSA president for 2023-2024 and led the chapter to this national honor. 

This is the seventh year UNL's PRSSA chapter has received the Star Chapter Award and the second year they've received the honor under the chapter's faculty advisor, Dave Remund, Ph.D., APR, Fellow PRSA. Mark Story, director of communications and marketing for the Bladder Cancer Advocacy Network, serves as the chapter’s professional advisor.

"This well-deserved honor reflects the outstanding leadership of immediate past president Valerie Uribe and her executive leadership team, as well as the unwavering commitment of our members to uphold the highest standards in public relations,” Remund said. “Our chapter's achievements in programming, service and ethical practice are a direct result of their hard work and dedication. As faculty advisor, I am proud to support such a talented and driven group of students and look forward to their continued success.”

The UNL PRSSA chapter is always open to new members and will resume twice-monthly meetings in September. For more information, follow their Instagram here, sign up to receive their newsletter or email the leadership team at prssa@unl.edu.

Group of students stands in front of neon sign that reads
This past April, members of the UNL PRSSA chapter visited Chicago for agency tours and professional networking, including a dinner with UNL alumni who work in public relations. Natalie Becerra (far right), career development specialist for the UNL College of Journalism and Mass Communications, accompanied the students.