UO PRSSA Students Recognized for Ewan and Cawood Awards

Two recent graduates of the University of Oregon School of Journalism and Communication (SOJC) were recognized for outstanding achievement in public relations at this year’s commencement events held June 13 and 14.

Kristina Rhodes received the Jack Ewan Award, presented each year to the outstanding senior member of the UO Chapter of the Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA).  The $500 award recognizes both achievement and potential and is named in honor of the late Jack Ewan, associate professor emeritus in the SOJC.

Ewan, who died October, 2009 of complications from multiple sclerosis, is credited with building the school’s public relations courses into an accredited major. He also founded the University of Oregon Chapter of PRSSA, the first of its kind in the Northwest.

Judges for the award praised Rhodes, a senior from Lake Oswego, for “her pre-professional involvement and engagement in the field of public relations. Her breadth of internship experiences and her consistent advancement to the role of director of Allen Hall Public Relations reflects the clarity of her ambition to be a public relations professional.”

Judges from the Portland Metro Chapter of PRSA included Vicki Hastings, APR, Patty Farrell, APR, Sharon Van Sickle Robbins, APR, Pat McCormick, APR, Martha Crawford Richmond, APR and Dianne Danowski Smith, APR.

Saramaya Weissman received the Liz Cawood Award, presented each year to a member of the UO Chapter of PRSSA for outstanding commitment of service to both PRSSA and the community.

The $500 award is named in the honor of Liz Cawood, owner of CAWOOD, a public relations firm located in Eugene. Cawood is a founding member of the Greater Oregon Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America and was the first professional advisor of UO PRSSA.

Weissman, a senior from Sandpoint, Idaho, was recognized by judges for her “outgoing style and involvement with the UO SOJC, PRSSA and Allen Hall Public Relations, which showed initiative in her work for these organizations in the University community. She has definitely proven her commitment to PRSSA and the community at large.”

Judges from the Greater Oregon Chapter of PRSA included Kathy Madison, APR, Eric Jones, APR and Nedine Karakaplan.

The awards were presented at the SOJC’s annual student recognition ceremony on Sunday, June 13.