The Akron Area Public Relations Society of America recently awarded a scholarship to Taylor Titus, a senior public relations major, from funds raised by its award-winning YouToo Social Media Conference.
YouToo Scholarship applicants must be full-time students majoring in public relations or communication and currently attending СƬƵ, a member in good standing of the СƬƵ chapter of Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA), and serving in some capacity to help prepare for the YouToo Conference. The committee judges the applications based on a rigorous standard, including 20 percent on grades in the major, 30 percent on participation in PRSSA or other extracurricular activities, 10 percent on classes taken in the major, 10 percent on faculty recommendations and 30 percent on overall quality of writing and presentation samples.
Titus’ internship at the luxury lifestyle public relations agency, Chic Communications, in Annapolis, Maryland, has been a highlight in her burgeoning career in public relations. Her internship has turned to fulltime employment upon her graduation in May.
The СƬƵ senior also serves as the PR Coordinator at The Tannery, a student-operated marketing communication firm in downtown Kent, Ohio. Taylor has a 3.3 grade point average and has worked in several key positions at СƬƵ’s PRSSA, including vice president of professional relations, secretary and as a member of the Bateman Competition Team and National PRSSA Presentation Team.
When Titus is not working with PRSSA, she can be found helping СƬƵ recruit future students, promoting the university to potential donors and coordinating outreach activities for the School of Journalism and Mass Communication.
“Taylor went well beyond excellent grades to build the skill sets needed to compete in an increasingly competitive field,” said Wendy Turrell, the chairperson of YouToo Scholarship selection committee. “Taylor's leadership with СƬƵ's PRSSA chapter locally and at the national level, her responsibilities with PRSA's annual YouToo Social Media Conference, her pre-professional experience at Kent's student newspaper, television station and student-run agency, combined with real-world internship exemplify a successful future public relations professional.”
The Akron Area Chapter of Public Relations Society of America is part of the world's largest organization for public relations professionals helping to advance the profession and the professional. Its nearly 115 local members represent business and industry, counseling firms, independent practitioners, military, government, associations, hospitals, schools, professional services firms and nonprofit organizations. The award-winning YouToo Social Media Conference is a professional development workshop hosted annual by the chapter.