About Eric

 

About: Eric is a sophomore Public Relations major and Spanish minor here at Valpo. He is an active member in our PRSSA chapter. Along with being involved in PRSSA, Eric is also the Vice President of External Affairs for the Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity where he handles the philanthropy events and public relations of the fraternity.

Hometown: Huntley, IL

Dream Job: To work for a sports team in their PR department.

Favorite part about PRSSA: Being a new member of PRSSA this semester I finally have the opportunity to work on a PR team here at our chapter. With this, I simply love the weekly meetings we have together as a chapter since they allow me to develop essential skills for my future in the Public Relations field.

3 Things You Can't Live Without: My best friends, sports writing, and coffee.

 

About Nicolina

About: Nicolina is a sophomore Public Relations major with a double minor in Spanish and Business Management. As well as being involved in PRSSA, she is a sister in the Gamma Phi Beta sorority.

Hometown: Huntley, IL

Favorite Part of PRSSA: The many opportunities that are offered! It’s not only an amazing opportunity to gain experience and knowledge about the Public Relations field, but it is key for forming relationships with both other members of PRSSA and current PR professionals. Most of the knowledge needed to be learned within PR is learned through experience and cannot be taught in the classroom, PRSSA offers this experience to a further extent than just internships.

Dream Job: Living in Chicago, working in fashion public relations or as an event coordinator.

3 things You Can’t Live Without: Eminem, my cell phone, and my planner. 

About Emily

About: Emily is a sophomore Public Relations major with a minor in Creative Writing.  In addition to being a member of PRSSA, Emily is involved with Valparaiso University’s paper The Torch as an Arts & Entertainment writer.  She is also an active member of Pi Beta Phi Fraternity for women.  Emily loves to write in her journal, cook, listen to her Spotify account, and read fashion blogs in her free time.  Emily is inspired by the creativity and optimism of others as well as vintage illustrations, interior design and musician Jesse Lacey.

Hometown: Oak Forest, IL

Dream Job: Either being an event planner, publicist, or columnist for a fashion/beauty company or magazine. Or all three since I consider myself to be ambitious! Ha. I would also love to be located in my favorite city, Chicago!

Favorite Part of PRSSA:  My favorite part of PRSSA is being a part of a group of young professionals who strive for excellence in their specific fields of interest.  I also love how different each one of our members are and how these differences produce many bright, creative ideas at our weekly meetings.

3 Things I Can’t Live Without:  Classic Literature (Scott F. Fitzgerald), Music, My Favorite People (you know who you are).

Get Swabbed Comes to Valparaiso University

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Ellis Lichtfuss                                                                      

Historian, Valpo PRSSA

Ellis.Lichtfuss@valpo.edu

Get Swabbed Comes to Valparaiso University

Dec, 10, 2013 Valparaiso, IN- The Public Relations Student Society of America at Valparaiso University is hosting ‘Get Swabbed’ this Thursday, Dec. 12, from 1 p.m.- 5:30 p.m. The event will take place in the Hearth located in the Harre Union at 1509 Chapel Dr. Valparaiso, IN 46383.

This event will ask that students, faculty and staff have their cheeks swabbed to see if they are a match to donate bone marrow. The participants will be registered in the bone marrow registry for Be The Match. Be The Match helps children and adults to find the match they need for bone marrow transplants.

Valparaiso University PRSSA is helping one leukemia patient in particular. Ben, a 13 year old from Chicago is part of the 7% of people who do not find a match for bone marrow. Valpo PRSSA first heard about this event when their sister chapter, Columbia College Chicago, was unsuccessful in finding Ben a match for their ‘Get Swabbed’ event last year.

”I am so excited for ‘Get Swabbed’! It’s for a great cause,” said Lauren Robinson, the event planner for PRSSA. “The opportunity to head this event means the world to me because my grandpa died of leukemia and I can only hope that I can help someone with this same disease and  beat this awful cancer.”

Valparaiso University PRSSA is certified by PRSSA national. PRSSA is a pre-professional organization of over 11,000 students nationwide. Valpo PRSSA currently has 20 active members and is led by Chapter President Ellie Lange and adviser Lanie Steinwart.

For more information about ‘Get Swabbed’ please contact Lauren Robinson, event planner for Valpo PRSSA, at Lauren.Robinson@valpo.edu

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About Lauren

About: Lauren is a junior at Valparaiso University. She is a Public Relations major with a Fundamentals of Business and Philanthropic Leadership and Service double minor.

Hometown: Lauren was raised in Manteno, IL, which is a small country town an hour and a half south of Chicago.

Dream Job: Lauren’s dream job is to be a Children’s Hospital Event Coordinator, preferably in Tennessee or Colorado; but she’ll take what she can get!

Favorite Part of PRSSA: Lauren’s favorite part of being a member of PRSSA is the on-hand experiences she has participated in. In addition, Lauren loves how easily it is to strengthen and enlarge her network through PRSSA.

3 Things I Can’t Live Without: Chai Tea Lattes, running shoes and my cat, Morris. 

About Ellis

About: Ellis is a junior Healthcare Leadership major with a minor in Public Relations. She is the historian. She attended her first National Conference in Philadelphia this October. Along with being involved in PRSSA, she is also a sister of Gamma Phi Beta Sorority with experience on executive board for two years in a row, a mentor in College Mentors for Kids, and an Ambassador in Admission. She also volunteers her time at the local elementary school and is also involved with Dance Marathon.

Hometown: St. Paul, MN

Dream Job: Living in the south, working in a children’s hospital either in administration or in public relations (maybe even both!)

Favorite Part of PRSSA: I really enjoy getting to know all of the people in PRSSA and getting to work with them as a team. I have found that public relations is becoming more and more important in the healthcare field and that is why I have been so interested in PR in the past year.

3 Things I Can’t Live Without: Leggings, Post-It Notes, Snapchat.

About Murphy

About: Murphy is a senior Public Relations major and Dance minor at Valparaiso University, who is also the vice president of the Public Relations Student Society of America Valparaiso Chapter. After attending national conference the last two years, her love for PR has grown more and more. Along with public relations, dance has been a huge part of her life and that has yet to change. Murphy has been a dancer and choreographer for the Valparaiso University Dance Ensemble for the past four years.

Hometown: Green Bay, Wisconsin

Dream Job: My dream job has always been to become a wedding planner ever since I was a little girl. The thought of being a part of someone’s special day puts a smile on my face. I love being organized, and organizing for other people, and I love planning! Everywhere I go… I need a plan!

Favorite Part of PRSSA: My absolute favorite part of PRSSA is learning about other members’ experiences that they have had. I enjoy learning about members internship experiences (the good and the bad) and I also love learning more and more about their personalities each day.

3 things I can’t live without: Instagram, Dance, My Little Brother.

PRSSA National Conference | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

At the end of October, five of our E-board members attended PRSSA's National Conference in Philadelphia. The theme for this conference was "Foundation for Innovation". At this conference we were able to network and attend session about topics that each of us are interested in. These sessions ranged from sports to fashion, to healthcare and event planning. There was something for everyone! 

Members: (left-right) Ellie Lange, Murphy Maes, Jeremy Getz, Lauren Robinson & Ellis Lichtfuss

Not only were we able to sit in on sessions, but we were also able to listen to other chapters speak about how their chapters have developed. We learned what works for certain chapters and what doesn't. 

The experience we had in Philly was incredible. I truly wish we could have brought our entire chapter to national conference, it was a weekend I will never want to forget. 

After every day of sessions, we were given free time to experience the insane amount of history that Philadelphia has to offer. It is the one of the oldest states, therefore it has more history that anyone will ever imagine. Learning more and more about public relations and getting the chance to experience the city was incredible. 

Written by: Murphy Maes, Valpo PRSSA Vice President.

SparkPR-Serengetee

This week we are promoting our new client, Serengetee (Sar-en-getti). Serengetee is a company devoted to giving back. It was founded in 2012 by college students who wanted to make a difference and is currently promoted by college students or "Serengetee campus reps" across the United States. SparkPR, the student-run firm of Valpo PRSSA is excited to have the opportunity to work with them!

Serengetee's pocket tee's come in a variety of different colors, textures and patterns from countries such as Poland and Indonesia. 5-13% of purchases are donated to a charity in the region the fabric was made or purchased.

We will be hard at work this week handing out flyers, promoting Serengetee's social media, and informing Valparaiso University students of the mission of Serengetee:

"When you wear Serengetee, you Wear the World."

Written by: Emily Doherty, Valparaiso University PRSSA member and social media chair.

The Golden Circle

As an undergrad student studying communication with a public relations concentration, most of the classes I take reflect how to communicate and sell yourself within a business. There are main traits one must have such as: great people skills, great public speaking abilities and knowing how to market yourself. These traits will put you ahead of the game after graduating with a degree in communications, no matter what field you choose to "put your foot in the door". Some find confusion while trying to master what exactly you are doing when you are a communication, or in my particular case, a public relations specialist.

Ted Talks are one of the ways that explanation can be provided for practically anything you need answered.

One of my favorite Ted Talks is by Simon Sinak, who released the book Start With Why in 2009.  The video is lengthy, but is definitely worth watching and taking notes!

Simon reflects on what is referred to as "The Golden Circle" ~ The What, the How, and the Why of communication. His examples include Apple, Martin Luther King Jr., and the Wright Brothers.

"If you hire people just because they can do a job, they'll work for your money. But if you hire people who believe what you believe, they'll work for you with blood and sweat and tears". Simon Sinak, 2009.

Written by: Emily Doherty, Valparaiso University PRSSA member and social media chair.