Communication Arts majors garner top PR awards

Communication Arts majors Melissa Csuhran and Barbara Tate, along with several other ONU Communication Arts students, recently won prestigious awards and scholarships at the National Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) conference held in November in Salt Lake City.

There are 272 PRSSA chapters and more than 9,000 PRSSA members eligible for these honors. "What our students have accomplished in recent years is exceptional," said Dr. Steve Iseman, who is president of the Central Ohio PRSA and professor of Communication Arts/Public Relations at Ohio Northern. "Their accomplishments have been noted not only at the student PRSSA conference, but at the concurrent professional PRSA conference as well." ONU's Kevin Saghy is the National PRSSA president.

Melissa Csuhran, a junior, communication arts major from Mentor, OH, captured the Altshul Award for Outstanding Internship and the Norman Fenichel Scholarship awarded for students who have achieved outstanding success in their academic studies of public relations and an excellent understanding of ethical conduct in the profession. "We were up against so many other members, so I was thrilled to win these awards," said Melissa. "The awards have helped to define me as an individual and given me enthusiasm for my future."

Barbie Tate, a senior, communication arts major from Kingsville, OH, received the Betsy Plank/PRSSA Scholarship award that recognizes academic achievement, demonstrated leadership, practical experience and commitment to public relations.

"Winning the scholarship meant a great deal to me," said Tate, "but I am most excited about what the success of the PRSSA chapter and its members means for the University and incoming students. The ONU public relations program will grow and produce some of the fines PR professionals in the nation."

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