May 23, 2024
Pearl River Community College’s Marketing & Recruitment Department took home top honors, including four first-place finishes, culminating in twelve total awards at the 2024 College Public Relations Association of Mississippi (CPRAM) Conference in Bay St. Louis.
Kari Eve Valence, Director of Marketing and Recruitment for PRCC, served as President of the CPRAM Board for 2023 –2024 and PRCC hosted the annual conference.
“I am thrilled to celebrate the outstanding achievements of our team,” said Valence. “Leading such a talented group of creatives, who strive to ensure that the message and quality of what we are producing is of paramount importance, is a dream come true.
“These accolades are a testament to the exceptional talent we have within this team, who work cohesively together to deliver Pearl River’s message. Their relentless hard work and dedication to excellence have established them as one of the premier marketing departments in Mississippi, and it is a true privilege to lead such a gifted group.”
PRCC President Dr. Adam Breerwood served as the keynote speaker, sharing his experience as a first-generation college student up to his tenure in the presidency. Included in his presentation was the establishment and growth of a culture centered around the mindset that the students, faculty, and staff at PRCC purposefully live their lives the Wildcat Way — with Pride, Respect, Class, and Character.
Four team members represented PRCC at the event, which included educational sessions and networking opportunities with other higher education institutions.
Individuals who were part of Pearl River’s marketing efforts during 2023 include Chuck Abadie, Jacob Cochran, Dylan Dunaway, Richard Gleber, Corey Guerra, Candace Harper, McKinsy Harris, Kaitlyn Jones, Alexx Kennedy, Rudy Melancon, Patrick Ochs, Laura O’Neill, River Roderick, and Kari Eve Valence.
Awards Received by PRCC
All awards are for the Junior Division comprised of Mississippi’s 15 community colleges.
First Place Awards
Public Relations Campaign: ROAR with CHAMPIONS – Jacob Cochran, Corey Guerra, Alexx Kennedy, Laura O’Neill, River Roderick and Kari Eve Valence
Sports Promo/ Hype Video: Baseball Hype Video – Jacob Cochran, Dylan Dunaway, and River Roderick.
It’s time for the home opener for the reigning National Champions! Who’s ready?#ROARwiththeBEST🐾 pic.twitter.com/p8XBOappY3
— PRCC Athletics (@PRCCAthletics) February 10, 2023
Digital Art/Photo Illustration: The Voices Composite 2023 – Jacob Cochran and River Roderick
Advertisement: Champion Your Future – Corey Guerra
Second Place Awards
Brochure: Brownstone Brochure – Corey Guerra
Social Media – Sports: PRCC Athletics Instagram – Dylan Dunaway and Richard Gleber
Sports News Story: No. 2 Pearl River comes from behind twice to sweep No. 5 Meridian – Dylan Dunaway
Sports Feature Story: From Miami to Poplarville: Hall of Famer wished PRCC was 4-year college – Dylan Dunaway
Third Place Awards
Advertisement: ADN Nursing Postcard – Corey Guerra
Brochure: Alumni Awards Program – Corey Guerra
News Story: PRCC’s Phi Theta Kappa Chapters Secure Top Honors at Worldwide Catalyst Event – Laura O’Neill
Sports Feature Story: Dedication pays off for PRCC’s newest Hall of Famer, Jim Murphy – Dylan Dunaway
About CPRAM
The College Public Relations Association of Mississippi (CPRAM) is a consortium of public relations professionals employed at Mississippi’s public and private colleges and universities, as well as affiliated education agencies. The annual CPRAM conference includes educational sessions, roundtable discussions, and the CPRAM Awards ceremony.
(front row, l-r) Donna Thomas, Treasurer, Itawamba; Stephanie Wood, Holmes; Kari Eve Valence, Past President, Pearl River, Harriet Laird, President, Mississippi State; Sherri Smith, Mississippi Gulf Coast; Missy Saxton, MCCB and Maria McLeod, Hospitality Chair, East Central; and (back row, l-r) Tyler Wheat, MUW; Mary LeSueur, Secretary, Rust; Maxine Greenleaf, Alcorn State; Steve Diffey, Scholarship Chair, Holmes; Andrew Dale, Vice President, Northwest; Karen Robertson, East Central; Sarah Smith, Awards Co-Chair, Northwest; and Carly Fox, Awards Co-Chair, Northwest. Not pictured is Donnell Maxie of Mississippi Valley.
Kari Eve Valence, Director of Marketing and Recruitment for PRCC, served as President of the CPRAM Board for 2023 –2024. The next conference will be in Starkville in 2025.
For the latest news on Pearl River Community College, visit PRCC.edu and follow us on Twitter (@PRCC_Wildcats), Instagram (PRCCWILDCATS), Facebook (@PRCCMKTG), and TikTok (@prcc_wildcats).
Article by Laura O’Neill.
