Una Communications Program Takes Home Prca Student And Educator Of The Year Awards

Apr. 16, 2010

Michelle Eubanks, UNA, at media@una.edu, 256.765.4392 or 256.606.2033

FLORENCE, Ala. - Students and faculty of the University of North Alabama Department of Communications took home 18 PRCA (Public Relations Council of Alabama) awards this week, including Student of the Year and Educator of the Year. The Student of the Year award went to senior Emily Matthews, of Baileyton, while Educator of the Year went to Lisa Darnell, assistant professor of speech communication. The awards were presented at PRSA's 2010 conference in Auburn. Student of the Year honors from PRCA are based on academic achievement, involvement in PRCA and examples of successful work in the field. Educator of the Year honors are based on a demonstrated commitment to advance the profession of public relations through teaching in the field or a closely related discipline. Darnell has been selected as the PRCA North Alabama Chapter's Educator of the Year the past two years. Darnell initiated PRCA's UNA Chapter in 1993, shortly after joining the university's communication faculty. The chapter has a long record of competition success, which Darnell said "speaks volumes about the quality of our program." "Our success in the competitions and our students' behavior at the conference adds to UNA's respect across the state," she said. Twenty-three UNA students attended this year's conference with Darnell and communications instructor Beth Garfrerick. Additional PRCA awards earned by the group include: MEDALLIONS Leah Beth Downs, of Athens; Brandi Norman, of Decatur; and Kathryn Robinson, of Russellville - UCLA: Staying Competitive in the New Era of High Education Institutions Allison Looney, of Florence - Northwest Alabama Reading Aides Display Plan Ethan Voce, of Cullman; and Will Hodges, of Trinity - ATO Parent Video Newsletter AWARDS OF EXCELLENCE Chelsea Mitchell, of Hampton Cove - Merichem Wood Preservation Trade Show Lerrin Sutton, of Athens - The Hangover Bag Sarah Robbins, of Florence - How UNA Students View the Communication Department Survey Hodges - SERVICE Logo Hodges - Alpha Tau Omega Calendar Hodges - Alpha Tau Omega Poster Hodges - Alpha Tau Omega Promotional Brochure Michelle Worley, of Mill Valley, Calif.; Norman; Haley Howle, of Birmingham; Candace Pike, of Florence; and Laine Roberson, of Rogersville - A Campaign Proposal for the UNA Communications Department Ashley Halbrooks, of Hartselle; Allison Looney, of Florence; Robinson; and Robbins - Go NARA! CERTIFICATES OF MERIT Sutton - Earle Trent Assembly Brochure Halbrooks - NARA Newsletter Amanda Terry, of Muscle Shoals - Newsletter for Earle Trent Assembly Jessica Clayton, of Tupelo, Miss. - Earle Trent Assembly Brochure Clayton - Earle Trent Assembly Display Plan Hodges - ATO Parent Logo For more information on the UNA Department of Communications, visit www.una.edu/communications.

About The University of North Alabama

The University of North Alabama is an accredited, comprehensive regional state university offering undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral degree programs through the colleges of Arts, Sciences, and Engineering; the Sanders College of Business and Technology; Education and Human Sciences; and the Anderson College of Nursing and Health Professions. Occupying a 130-acre campus in a residential section of Florence, Alabama, UNA is located within a four-city area that also includes Muscle Shoals, Sheffield, and Tuscumbia. UNA Athletics, a renowned collegiate athletics program with seven (7) Division II National Championships, is now a proud member of NCAA Division I as part of the Atlantic Sun and United Athletic conferences. The University of North Alabama is an equal opportunity institution and does not discriminate in the admission policy on the basis of race, color, sex, religion, disability, age, or national origin. For more: una.edu and una.edu/unaworks/.