As part of its mission to further public relations education and professional development, the Public Relations Foundation of Texas (PRFT) and TPRA jointly sponsor two student programs:
- Silver Spur Student Campaign Competition
- Silver Spur Intern Program
- James W. Hart, Jr. Intern of the Year
2009 Silver Spur Student Campaign Competition
THE CONTEST
The Texas Public Relations Association will sponsor a Silver Spur Student Campaign Competition as part of the Silver Spur/Best of Texas Awards. Teams of students are invited to enter a public relations campaign they created for a college "PR Campaigns Class" or other curriculum course during the Spring, Summer or Fall semesters.
Neither the number of students per team nor the number of team entries from a school is limited. There is a $25 fee for each entry.
A panel of public relations professionals will judge the entries concurrent with the judging of the Silver Spur/Best of Texas Awards (in January each year). A winning Silver Spur Student Campaign entry will clearly demonstrate understanding of the public relations planning process. A winning entry will also include a creative, yet realistic, approach to research, objectives, strategies, tactics, evaluation, timelines and budget. Certificates of Merit may be awarded to entries that judges believe deserve recognition but do not quite meet Silver Spur Student Campaign Award standards.
Award winners will be notified by fax or e-mail in time to make plans to attend the annual Silver Spur/Best of Texas Awards Banquet in Austin in 2010 where they will be recognized.
One Silver Spur Award Certificate (or a Certificate of Merit) per entry will be given to the winning team.
ENTRY RULES 1. Each entry must be submitted in a single, hardcover, three-ring viewbinder, not more than three inches thick. Judges will not consider the exterior of the binder in judging the entry. Entries not packaged in hardcover binders may be disqualified. One copy of the
Entry Form must be inserted in the clear front cover of the binder. Another copy of the Entry Form must be enclosed in the binder's inside front cover pocket.
2. Team name - Each team must create a Team Name to use in labeling the entry binder and all entry materials. Enter the Team Name on the proper line on the
Entry Form.
3. A typewritten summary - Double-spaced in 12-point type on 8 x 11 paper addressing each of the four judging criteria separately. (See "Judging Criteria" below.) Silver Spur Student Campaign summaries can be no longer than four (4) pages.
4. Support materials - Any materials you prepared to support the classroom presentation of your campaign should be included with your entry. Materials larger than the binder format must be folded or reduced to fit the binder. Reduced photocopies or photographs of materials produced are acceptable. If you enclose a videocassette, CD-ROM or floppy disk, be sure it is clearly labeled with the Team Name from your
Entry Form and your school name. Also be sure these kinds of materials are enclosed in a sealed envelope.
JUDGING CRITERIA
The public relations campaigns that students may enter can be either "real world" that resolves an actual public relations challenge, or it my be resolving a "hypothetical" public relations case. Please specify which type of campaign you are entering.
Judges will look for both creativity and realism in your team's approach to the four areas of public relations planning. You will summarize what your team proposed for each of the four areas in your typewritten summary. . Research (25 points): What did you propose be done for planning research, implementation research and evaluative research? Why did you believe these methods would be effective? Did you conduct any of this research? What were your results?
2. Planning (30 points): What are your goals and objectives? Objectives should be measurable. Who are your key audiences? What are your key messages?
3. Implementation (30 points): What are your strategies and tactics? You should summarize, but not detail, your timeline and budget in this section. Include a detailed timeline and any budget you prepared in your support materials.
4. Evaluation (15 points): How will your measure your campaign success?
JUDGES' CRITIQUES
Judges will prepare a brief written critique of each entry. These will be mailed after the Awards Banquet to the contact person listed on your
Entry Form.
ENTRY DEADLINE
Friday, February 5, 2010 (
received in the TPRA office by this date)
QUESTIONSKeith R. Schmidt, APR - Newfield Exploration - ( 281) 674-2650 or e-mail
kschmidt@newfield.com
MAIL/SHIP TO
TPRA Office - 823 Congress Ave., Ste. 230 - Austin, TX 78701
2009 Silver Spur Intern Program
Each spring, a call goes out to TPRA members asking for applications for a summer intern.
Based on the scholarship budget, the TPRA board determines the number of interns which will be placed, and the companies that will be their hosts. Internship companies are announced to TPRA academic members in early spring, and they communicate with their students.
Students interested in internship placements apply directly to the TPRA internship company of their choice. The companies notify students who have been selected.
In order for students to qualify for these internship opportunities, they must meet the following criteria upon completion of their internships:
- Be graduating in December 2009 or later;
- Have worked approximately three months or 120 hours (to be determined by the sponsoring organization);
- Have met expectations of employer and successfully completed tasks assigned;
- Have performed a variety of PR duties such as writing, editing, event planning, media relations, etc.).
TPRA provides each intern with a $1000 scholarship, and the opportunity to participate in the Intern of the Year program. If chosen as James W. Hart Intern of the Year they receive an additional $1500 scholarship. All interns attend the Annual Conference as the guests of TPRA, but must provide their own transportation.
James W. Hart, Jr. Intern of the Year Award
Each summer, TPRA places students in internships across the state. Each receives a $1000 scholarship from TPRA. These students then compete for the James W. Hart, Jr. Intern of the Year award, which offers an additional $1500 scholarship, and $1000 for the student's University.
James W. Hart and Intern Program Overview
2010 Intern of the Year: Garrett Brown (interned with NuStar Energy, LP)
Previous Winners:
2009 - Jamison Hoelscher
2008 - Rosary Mangano
2007 - Heather Keenan
2006 - Camden Gilman
2005 - Patrick Dyer
2004 - Adrienne Fleming
2003 - Jennifer Hoff
2002 - Shea Mayberry
2001 - Anne Hoar
2000 - Sylvia Mugica
1999 - Jennifer Wilhite
1998 - Karla Bradford
1997 - Kathleen Matthew Fisher
