Illinois State University Chapter
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P u b l ic R e l a t i o n s S t u d e n t S o ci e t y
Alumni Newsletter The Reason for the Season By Sydney Velez During the season of savings, it is easy to forget the real reason for the season. This time of year is all about giving. When a student thinks of giving, it usually includes thoughts of giving to family, friends, and significant others. Illinois State University is encouraging alumni and current students to expand their definition of giving to include ISU with the Giving Tuesday event. During the event, the university aims for a high volume of gifts of any dollar amount to be gifted to ISU in 24 hour. The spirit of the occasion is to give as much as you can for one special day of giving during the holiday season to improve the school that has made such a big impact on many lives. This semester, the students of the Introduction to Public Relations (COM 178) class took it upon themselves to use their newly learned public relations skills and come up with ways to improve Giving Tuesday at ISU. Professor Tom Lamonica, thought this would be a beneficial handson experience for the class to strategize for a large event. He was right; the class took off with ideas. Many students had fresh perspectives that had not been brought up by the creators of the event. Out of a few intense brainstorming sessions, students of COM 178 came up with a few key ways to heighten awareness for this day. One of those ideas was to spend an entire class period focused on the Giving Tuesday initiative. The objective was to get two-thirds of the students in COM 178 to give, then, to continue giving, Tom Lamonica would match how much the amount the class gave with his own donation. Continued on page 4
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What’s Inside National Conference: A Professional Adventure, Page 2 Graduates Continue to Lead, Page 3 Life After College: Public Relations Edition, Page 5
Fall 2015 Alumni Newletter
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National Conference: A Professional Adventure By Andrea Casali
I wanted to present the opportunity of If you asked me what the most valuable attending conference to members in a experience I have had so far as a member of the Illinois State University Chapter of the creative, genuine way, so over the summer I Public Relations Student Society of America, reached out to several alumni to see if they would be interested in sending a video of I would refer to my experience at this year’s themselves talking about their experience at national conference. This experience has been one that I anticipated for a long time, and conference and why it is a good investment. I I could not be happier with the impact it left on received over eight videos from alumni, which were edited into a three-part series shown at me. PRSSA 2015 National Conference (NC) took Chapter. place from Nov. 6-10 in Atlanta. I had planned Members enjoyed hearing and seeing alumni talk about the value of conference and to attend conference since I first joined ISU why they enjoyed it so much. We also held PRSSA as a freshman, where I first heard both current members and alumni sing praises several fundraisers and received corporate sponsorships to help members with the cost of the impact it had on their success. After waiting in anticipation for a couple of years, I of attending conference. As for my experience, PRSSA NC was ready and anxious for the opportunities to come when it finally came time to board the exceeded the expectations I had set after hearing alumni experiences. It provided plane to Atlanta. me with many opportunities, one being the As the national liaison for ISU PRSSA chance to connect with PRSSA Chapters this year, much of my role consisted of from across the nation. We shared our career preparing for PRSSA NC and coordinating goals, discussed successes and challenges member attendance. I spent a lot of time within our Chapters, and shared our college researching the event and taking care of experiences, all of which were super helpful the details associated with registration, to me as an e-board member. hotel reservations, itinerary, and so on. All Not only did I connect with members from of the attending members of the 2015-2016 executive board had attended conference in other chapters, but I also got the chance to the past, so it was challenging to promote an bond with members from my own Chapter. We explored downtown Atlanta together event that we had no personal experience when sessions ended each day. ISU PRSSA with. members tried several Atlanta restaurants, fast-food joints, and visited iconic locations such as the World of Coca-Cola and the Atlanta Aquarium. It was such a great experience to travel together and represent ISU PRSSA. I felt pride in my Chapter and in the members standing beside me when we gave our chant during roll call and again when we were awarded another STAR Chapter Award. Continued on page 4
Fall 2015 Alumni Newletter
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Graduates Continue to Lead School work and the realities of graduating soon are on many student’s minds right now, which is why Illinois State University graduate, Ali Seys, is willing to give advice and help out in any way she can. After receiving her Bachelor of Science degree in public relations this past spring, Seys quickly became an active alumna with current members of ISU’s Chapter of the Public Relations Student Society of America. Reflecting on her own membership, Seys acknowledged how much of an impact the guidance from older, more experienced members made on the organization’s members. “My first year in ISU PRSSA, I was a mentee in the mentormentee program. My mentor, Marrison Worthington, was a great role model and friend. It helped me become comfortable at ISU and in the public relations program quickly, and I want to help other students have the same great experience that I did,” Seys said. Seys is now the marketing and communication manager for United Way of Mclean County, where she wears many hats. Seys was also the 2014-2015 vice president on the of the ISU PRSSA Chapter, which inspired her to continue her efforts to teach new members what she has learned even after her graduation. Another part of her motivation was due to her appreciation of the public relations faculty and staff in the School of Communication. “All of the public relations faculty and staff are amazing educators, role models, and friends. I would not have
By Yessenia Nunez
been as successful or enjoyed my time at ISU and in PRSSA without them. They have high expectations for their students so I felt like I graduated with the best set of skills possible. I am very fortunate to still be in contact and working with some of them,” Seys said. While working with the Chapter’s student-run firm, PRogressive Image (PRi), Seys is hopeful that her experience at United Way will help students gain more knowledge and experience through different PR assignments. With her help with ISU PRSSA and advice about life after graduation, students feel more confident as they prepare for the big change in their lives after graduation and pursue careers in the industry. “There is no standard or right path to take following graduation. So just fully take in every experience and use it as a lesson and opportunity from which to learn and grow,” said Seys.
Fall 2015 Alumni Newletter
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National Conference: A Professional Adventure Continued
We were also awarded third place in the National Organ Donation Awareness Competition (NODAC). The professional opportunities were endless. I found that PRSSA NC offered panels and general sessions that would appeal to every aspiring public relations professional, no matter which sector of public relations they would like to work in. The amount of professional development sessions offered in the afternoons was exceptional. It would probably take a year of Chapter workshops to cover as many areas that conference covered in less than five days. I waited all weekend for the session that I felt most applied to my career goals, which was called Just the Right Fit: Fashion Public Relations, where I heard from Theo Tyson, a remarkable event director. The speaker at this session as well as the speakers at every other panel I attended both inspired me and challenged me. These sessions made me realize how much room for personal growth there is (and always will be), and gave me some positive reinforcement in choosing public relations as my career path. I would like to thank the alumni who sent in a video: Shelby Ray, Cassidy Obis, Mateo Aguirre, Cindy Kirchner, Nick Hebert, Melissa Fortes, Lauren Vahldick, Bianca Lawson, and Lily Sherer. Thank you for your time and willingness to stay connected to the Chapter! The PRSSA 2016 National Conference will take place in Indianapolis.
The Reason for the Season Continued From that point, the class was determined to spread the word for the event, especially by employing the hashtag #GivingTuesdayISU on social media along with pictures of students giving from class. Giving Tuesday, on Dec. 1, 2015, was an extraordinary success. In the words of, Lora Wey, executive director of annual giving at ISU, the goal of this Giving Tuesday was as follows: “Our initial goal was 500 donors would unlock a $60,000 gift. We surpassed the goal around 12 p.m. Our overall hope was to exceed our dollar and donor goal of last year and have an even greater spread through social media than last year.” Giving Tuesday will only continue to grow by reaching more and more people each year. Many potential donors think because of ISU’s larger size that any one gift will not make a difference. Giving Tuesday seeks to dispel that way of thinking by showing donors that if everyone gives a little, then it provides a great deal of support to the school. The gifts can go to any sector of ISU the donor chooses. Wey also commented on another important impact of Giving Tuesday, which is to increase the development of the school, “Not only do we raise dollars and donors in one 24 hour period, but we engage a larger audience through social media and raise awareness about the importance of supporting ISU in a fun way. All gifts raised go to support students at ISU. Donors can support their passion by making a gift to an area that was important to them.” The majority of gifts come from our distinguished alumni. Giving Tuesday is more than just a campaign to raise money, it is a way to raise opportunities for the school in a fun, philanthropic way. Big or small everyone is encouraged to make room for ISU on the list of things to give to this holiday season and every holiday season from here on out.
Fall 2015 Alumni Newletter
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Life After College: Public Relations Edition By Allie Trosper
As a sophomore undergraduate student at Illinois State University, I honestly have no idea what life will be like after post-graduation. I decided to do some research and talked with three recent graduates to find out more about life after college. All three former members of the ISU Chapter of the Pubic Relations Student Society of America, graduated with a degree in public relations from ISU, and have found work in different parts of the country. These young professionals are all hardworking, and each have their own spin on life. Nick Hebert found himself moving to Arizona, Mateo Aguirre traveled across the country in search of Palm Trees in California, and Bridget Anders is now living in Wrigleyville, exploring the city of Chicago one day at a time. Each answer provides some insight about what life will be like after we leave and how we can prepare ourselves on how to be an “adult”. What is your current job? What types of things are you doing, what are your responsibilities? Hebert: I adjust Fire insurance claims at State Farm Insurance. I am responsible for communicating with policyholders, investigating losses, and paying for claims. Things like going into my professor’s office for advice or help, learning how to dress professionally (Thanks Frank and Mateo!), and even making friends before and after class are the experiences I found most useful during my first six months at my job. Aguirre: Currently, I work as an Associate Community Manager for an advertising agency called RPA in Santa Monica, Calif., which is number 16 on best agencies to work for by Advertising Age. My main responsibilities include creating social media calendars for our biggest client, Honda. I also manage the online communities for Tempur-Pedic, Sealy and Sterns & Foster. Another aspect of my job is working hand-in-hand with creative and copywriters on suggesting the best strategies for our client’s social media pages. Anders: Currently, I am the marketing intern for Lipman Hearne, a marketing and communication agency in the nonprofit and higher education sectors. My main responsibilities include social media, award submissions, advisory council coordination, conference and
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Fall 2015 Alumni Newletter
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Life After College: Public Relations Edition Continued event planning, and new business proposal and presentation support, along with a lot of random projects that come up. The major project I am working on right now is a seasonal campaign to spread holiday cheer through a recipe sharing board that warms the heart and helps people reminisce about all the good home memories. What influenced you to move out of state? Are you happy with your decision to move away? Hebert: I had A LOT of support from family and friends before and during my move to Arizona. I was prepared, prior to graduation, to take a position out of state. It is a tough concept to come to terms with, but a lot of employers expect their employees to be mobile now, more than ever. I think the fact that I proved I am willing to move over 1,600 miles away for a position is another bullet point for the resume. It is something to be proud of, but also something all millennial professionals need to come to terms with. Your dream job may not be within 100 miles of your best friends and family, it may not even be within 1,000! Aguirre: Honestly, this has been something I talked about doing since freshman year of college. Los Angeles is a place of mystery and excitement that was always very intriguing to me. I am one hundred and fifty seven percent happy with the decision. Sometimes I wake up and look at the palm trees outside my window and I am instantly filled with joy. There are so many opportunities here in LA/the west coast that I never dreamed of doing back home. Sure it gets hard sometimes, but you just have to stay positive and have good vibes. #NoRagrets Anders: Coming from a small town always made me want to move to a big city and I am so glad I did. I knew I wanted to work in the agency setting, which you cannot really do in a small town anyway. It was a crazy couple of weeks, but I would not change it. Everyone here is always so willing to help in any way they can and that is comforting. How did the ISU PRSSA help/benefit you? Hebert: Although I do not work in public relations, I think my professional experiences from ISU PRSSA provided me with the best exposure possible to the professional world. Besides that, the type of students involved in PRSSA and professionals in PRSA are eerily similar to the type of people in my management and leadership throughout State Farm. Aguirre: I would be much more lost if I did not have the experiences of ISU PRSSA to prep me. I learned how to properly work with a larger group of people in an efficient way. I can coordinate events in a smooth manner as well. The biggest thing for me has been networking. I became a little bit of a pro at talking to complete strangers and establishing a relationship with them to hopefully help further my career in the future. Anders: Even though I have no clue how to be an adult, I do know how to be a public relations professional because of ISU PRSSA. I learned so much from being a member and part of the Executive Board. It helped me find my confidence as a leader and brought me to some of my closest friends.