UO Students Receive PRSA Awards

Two University of Oregon School of Journalism and Communication students were recognized for outstanding achievement at the 2008 Allen Hall Public Relations/Public Relations Student Society of America banquet held at the Ring of Fire Restaurant in Eugene on Tuesday, June 3.

Mandee Pearson received the Jack Ewan Award, presented each year to the outstanding senior member of UO PRSSA. The award recognizes both achievement and potential in a senior student and is named in honor of Jack Ewan, Professor Emeritus in the UO SOJC.

In 1964, Ewan developed public relations into a comprehensive and accredited sequence in the UO SOJC. He founded the UO chapter of PRSSA, the first such chapter in the Northwest. Until his retirement in 1985, Ewan guided the PR program here to high-profile involvement both regionally and nationally. Many PR practitioners today owe a great deal of their success to his instruction. The award features a cash prize and is sponsored by the Portland Metro Chapter and Greater Oregon Chapter of PRSA.

Pearson, a senior from Hillsboro, was lauded by the judges for "her very strong academic performance, her level of commitment to PRSSA, and her pre-graduation involvement in internships and other opportunities to learn about the field of public relations."

Judges from the Portland Metro Chapter of PRSA included Timm Locke, APR, Principal, Pipeline PR and Marketing, Madeline Turnock, APR, Vice President, Rockey Hill & Knowlton, Emily Taylor, Group Manager, Weber Shandwick, and Dianne Danowski Smith, APR, Portland Director, The Ulum Group.

Jessica Lomelin received the Liz Cawood Award, presented each year to a member of the University of Oregon Chapter of PRSSA for outstanding commitment of service to both PRSSA and the community.

The 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 the first professional advisor of UO PRSSA. The award includes a cash prize and is sponsored by the Greater Oregon Chapter of PRSA and CAWOOD.

Lomelin, a senior from Tucson, Arizona, "reflects a strong commitment to the profession and the community through her extensive involvement in PRSSA," said judges. "Her work with the Make-A-Wish Foundation, Parenting Now! and the Oregon Bach Festival truly honors the Cawood Award."

Judges from the Greater Oregon Chapter of PRSA included Eric Jones, APR, Public Affairs Manager, City of Eugene Public Works Department, Stephanie Stano of Koto Communications and Jan Bohman, Community Relations Director, City of Eugene.

Congratulations to both Mandee and Jessica!

Jessica Lomelin (left) won the Liz Cawood Award and Mandee Pearson (right) won the Jack Ewan Award. Photo by Stacey Myers.