I'm going to check on the funding requirements for the PRSA
<http://www.prsa.org/_About/prsafoundation/cca.asp?ident=prsa0>
Communications Career Academy ( <http://www.pracademy.org/>
www.pracademy.org) initiative, which exposes high school students to public
relations as a college major and a career option. This new program will
create a pipeline of college graduates entering public relations with six to
eight years of communications education. There is a pre-existing curriculum
and support for this type of programming, but it also involves local chapter
support.
Gary
-----Original Message-----
From: Copelan, Melissa L. [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Thursday, April 14, 2005 9:36 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: 4/13 KNS: High School Students Run Carter's New PR Department
Or perhaps there is a way to also get this high school group integrated into
the PRSSA student chapter as well.
Melissa Copelan
Community Relations Manager
Alcoa Inc. - Tennessee Operations
Member, Public Relations Society of America
_____
From: Public Relations Society of America [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
On Behalf Of Hurst, Dan
Sent: Thursday, April 14, 2005 9:20 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: 4/13 KNS: High School Students Run Carter's New PR Department
For those of you don't live in North Knoxville and, therfore, do not receive
the North Knox zone edition of the Wednesday News Sentinel, I thought I'd
share this very interesting article about a student-run PR firm at Carter
High School. From this article, it appears that they are doing some very
interesting projects.
To Volunteer PRSA Board Members: Perhaps there is a way you might consider
honoring Carter High School, the teachers involved and/or the students
themselves for what they are accomplishing at Carter High School? You might
also think about inviting them to an upcoming meeting as the chapter's
guests of honor -- or even have this as a topic of an upcoming meeting.
Dan
Knoxville News-Sentinel
April 13, 2005
Students run Carter's new public relations department
By ED MARCUM, [log in to unmask]
April 13, 2005
If a business can have a public relations department, why can't a school?
Just like a business, a school needs to present itself to the public. In
fact, if it wants to count on support from parents and community, it needs
some sort of organized way to get its message out.
These were some of the ideas that led Carter High School Principal Cheryl
Hickman and teacher Don Campbell, former head of the Tennessee Press
Association, to start a public relations department at the school. But there
is a twist: The department is student-run by members of the Senior Projects
Class.
"The object of the Senior Projects Class is to do a project in which the
students can pull together everything they have been learning," Hickman
said. "And with this project, they are filling a real need for our school.
This is something that our staff and teachers would just not have the time
to do."
Campbell, who is in charge of students picked for the project, serves as
adviser while they publish newsletters, produce videos, send out press
releases, organize events and generally do what is needed to promote the
school.
These students also work closely with the Carter Corps, an organization of
parents, businesses and others committed to supporting the school. The
students arrange Carter Corps meetings and publish a newsletter to keep
parents and others informed about school happenings and needs.
The school launched both programs this school year, and is on its second
team of five students for the publicity effort. Samantha Niva, Stacy Stiles,
Joshua Brabson and Logan Black made up the first-semester publicity staff.
Aaron Kiser, Daniel Snider, Chris Martin, Brett Bivens and Josh Hudgens are
the staff members now.
Campbell said he picks students based on their potential to fill the
particular needs of the staff. Students pitch in where needed, but usually
each has a specialty or two. Aaron generally handles photography. Daniel
does video work, Chris is a writer, Brett works with computer graphics, and
Josh organizes events and handles contacts with the public.
They all collaborate on the newsletter. Called the Carter Corps News, it is
published quarterly and is a forum for school news and opportunities for
parents to volunteer. The spring issue includes stories about the Carter
Corps formation, the school's accreditation efforts, school sports and the
school scholars bowl team placing in the top four in the state.
When Carter High officials decided to seek accreditation from the Southern
Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools, the Senior Projects Class
shot video and still photography, interviewed students, teachers and
administrators and produced a video, which the students showed to SACS
representatives, about the school's improvement plan.
"They were all greatly impressed by the video," Hickman said.
Now the Senior Projects Class is starting to learn Web site development,
Campbell said. While it tries to fulfill a need for the school, the Senior
Projects Class is also in need of help for supplies and equipment and is
looking for companies that can help out with such things as computer
equipment, Campbell said.
Despite all the things it does, the Senior Projects Class has a low profile
in the school, perhaps because the class is so small. Class members recalled
a student who wandered into the classroom one day and saw only Duncan and
the five students.
"Is this a class or what?" she asked.
Aaron said students are starting to ask about the class, though, and some
even want to join.
"A lot of students know about us, but they don't know what all we do," he
said.
For information on Carter Corps, call the school at 865-933-3434.
Ed Marcum may be reached at 865-342-6267.
_______________________________________
Dan Hurst, Director of Media Relations
Scripps Networks
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9721 Sherrill Boulevard
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