Although only a few years affiliated, the UVU PRSSA Chapter is well established and has gained local, state and national attention for its achievements.

National PRSSA Awards

Sponsored by the Champions of PRSSA, the Dr. F.H. Teahan Chapter Awards are the nation’s premier PRSSA Awards. The UVU PRSSA Chapter has been placed in the national spotlight by receiving the following awards out of 330+ universities.

2016 Outstanding Chapter in the Nation Award
2014 Outstanding Website in the Nation Award
2014 Outstanding University Service Project in the Nation Award
2013 Outstanding Chapter in the Nation Award
2012 Outstanding Faculty adviser in the Nation Award

National Star Chapter Awards

The PRSSA Star Chapter Award is a singular distinction that only a few of the 330+ PRSSA Chapters receive each year. The UVU PRSSA Chapter has received the prestigious Star Chapter Award each year since the the UVU PRSSA Chapter was organized.

2017 National Star Chapter Award
2016 National Star Chapter Award
2015 National Star Chapter Award
2014 National Star Chapter Award
2013 National Star Chapter Award
2012 National Star Chapter Award
2011 National Star Chapter Award
2010 National Star Chapter Award

National President's Citation

The National Presidents Citation is a special honor conferred upon students who have left a lasting mark on the Society through their exceptional contributions to PRSSA at the Chapter and National level.

2017: Wade Draper
2017: Jon Kovach
2013: Henry Cervera
2012: Vanessa Perkins

National Bateman Case Study Competition Awards

The Bateman Case Study Competition is PRSSA’s premier national case study competition for public relations students. It gives PR students the opportunity to apply classroom education and internship experiences to create and implement a full public relations campaign. UVU PRSSA students have been recognized nationally for their outstanding real-world campaigns.

Honorable Mention Award 2014: Fiserv Financial, A New Way To Pay
Honorable Mention Award 2014: Fiserv Financial, IOUtah
Honorable Mention Award 2013: Be Cool, Not Cruel campaign on raising awareness and prevention of bullying.
Honorable Mention Award 2013: Pick on This campaign on raising awareness and prevention of bullying.
Honorable Mention Award 2012: General Mills and United Way Worldwide, for the Jump Into Motion Campaign
Honorable Mention Award 2011: Ally Financial, Knowledge is Money Campaign
Honorable Mention Award 2011: Ally Financial, for the Own Your Finances Campaign
Honorable Mention Award 2010: 2010 – U.S. Census Bureau

Utah Golden Spike Awards

Utah’s Golden Spike Awards recognizes the PR industry’s most outstanding communication campaigns and tactics. Sponsored by the Greater Salt Lake PRSA and Utah Valley PRSA Chapters, the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) Utah Chapter, and the Utah Society for Healthcare Communication and Marketing (USHCAM), UVU PRSSA students have competed head-to-head with industry professionals and have been recognized for their outstanding work—even beating out the work of industry professionals.

Golden Spike Award 2017: Best of Show: UVU PRSSA Regional Conference
Golden Spike Award 2017: Government, Nonprofit and Associations Special Event: UVU PRSSA Regional Conference
Golden Spike Award 2014: Best Public Relations Campaign Marketing: IOUtah
Golden Spike Award 2014: Best Social Media Campaign: A New Way To Pay
Golden Spike Award 2014: Best Social Media Tactic: A Utah Valley Bachelor
Golden Spike Award 2013: Best of Show: Pick On This, Make A Change: Anti-bullying campaign
Golden Spike Awards 2013: Public Service/Advocacy Government, Nonprofit Organizations: Be Cool, Not Cruel Anti-bullying campaign
Golden Spike Awards 2013: Best Public Relations Tactic: Be Cool, Not Cruel Press Conference for Orem City – declaration of February as the Be Cool, Not Cruel anti-bully awareness month.
Golden Spike Awards 2013: Best Public Relations Campaign Marketing: Pick On This, Make A Change: Anti-bullying campaign.
Golden Spike Award 2012: Public Service/Advocacy Government, Nonprofit Organizations: Move Your Beehind Campaign – raising awareness and helping prevent childhood obesity in Utah.

Hermes Awards

Hermes Creative Awards is an international competition for creative professionals involved in the concept, writing, and design of traditional materials and programs, and emerging technologies. UVU PR students have been recognized for their outstanding work.

Hermes Creative Awards 2014: Gold Winner – Public Relations Campaign – A New Way To Pay
Hermes Creative Awards 2014: Gold Winner – Pro Bono Public Relations Work – A New Way To Pay, A Utah Valley Bachelor YouTube video series.
Hermes Creative Awards 2014: Honorable Mention – Public Relations Campaign – IOUtah
Hermes Creative Awards 2013: Platinum Winner- Outstanding Public Relations Campaign - Be Cool, Not Cruel campaign on raising awareness and prevention of bullying.
Hermes Creative Awards 2013: Platinum Winner- Pro Bono Work – Be Cool, Not Cruel Press Conference for Orem City – declaration of February as the Be Cool, Not Cruel anti-bully awareness month.

Each year the UVU PRSSA Chapter, in consultation with the UVU PR faculty and academic advisers, presents annual awards in the following categories

Outstanding PR Student of the Year

Awarded to the student who has demonstrated outstanding passion and commitment to the advancement of Public Relations demonstrated through both academic achievements as well as extracurricular efforts.

2011: Nathaniel Gray
2012: Sarah Griener
2013: Chris Bailey
2014: McKenzie Haggard
2015: Reagan Nickl
2016: Jon Kovach
2017: Britnee Bromley-Nuehring
2018: Emmy Crist

PRSSA Inspiring Newcomer of the Year

Awarded to a Sophomore or Junior PRSSA member who inspires excellence and strives to advance the goals of the UVU PRSSA chapter.

2011: Henry Cervera
2012: Stephanie Valesco
2013: Wing Kai La
2014: Taylor Williams
2015: Jon Kovach
2016: Britnee Bromley-Nuehring
2017: Kate Simpson
2018: Adam Giddings

PR Outstanding Internship

Awarded to the student who best embodies the concept of engaged learning and the advancement of Public Relations through an internship.

2011: Gavin Gustafson
2012: Paul Keep
2013: Brandon Pollard
2014: Janessa McNeil
2015: Charlie Kaing
2016: Calvin Williams
2017: Josh Bird
2018: Wade Draper

On-campus friend of PRSSA

Awarded to a UVU employee who outstandingly advances the goals of the UVU PRSSA Chapter.

2011: Marissa King, Program Coordinator-Clubs/Organizations
2012: Sarah Roseborough, Clubs Office
2013: Natalie Shelley, Administrative Assistant, Communication Department
2014: Courtney Burns, Administrative Assistant, Communication Department
2015: Marsha Haynes, Director Internship Services
2015: Kalea Lunt, UVU Clubs Office Coordinator
2017: Toni Harris, UVU Communication Department

Community Friend of PRSSA

Awarded to a person outside of the UVU campus community who outstandingly advances and supports the UVU PRSSA Chapter.

2011: Cheryl Snapp Conner, Snapp Conner PR Firm
2012: Scott Lazerson
2013: Spencer Parkinson, PR Manager, Symantec
2014: Jeff DuBois, Vice President, Method Communications
2015: Jenna Cason, Public Relations Manager, Vivint
2016: McKenzie Haggard, Account Executive, Method Communications
2017: Vern Pyne, American Fork Chick-fil-A
2018: Trey Fitz-Gerald, Real Salt Lake

UVU Full-time Faculty of the Year Award

Awarded to a full time faculty member who has done the most to advance the goals of the UVU PRSSA Chapter.

2011: David Scott
2012: Matthew Kushin
2013: Leslie Rasmussen
2014: Stephen Whyte
2015: Hank McIntire
2016: Farah Sanders
2017: Kim Hanson
2018: David Morin

Community Trailer Blazer Award

Awarded to a person who has championed the field of communication, elevated the profession, served as a mentor, and blazed the way in creating professional opportunities for others.

2011: Dr. Phil Gordon, Founder of the UVU Communication Department
2012: Vegor Pedersen, UVU PR Academic Adviser
2013: Susan Richards, UVU PRSSA Professional Adviser
2014: Pete Codella, VP of Alexander’s
2015: Holly Heffron, Community Relations, University of Phoenix
2016: Patrick Hernandez, Communications Manager, General Motors
2017: Keith Green, VP of Marketing & Commercial Sales, Guinness World Records
2018: Faith Tusieseina, Manager of New Business, Universal Music Group