UF Public Relations Students Win
Seventh Bateman Competition
New York, NY (May 8, 2001) The Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) announced today the three winners of the final Bateman Case Study Competition. This year, the University of Florida took first place, followed by Loyola University New Orleans who came in second. California State University Long Beach received third place. This marks the seventh time that UF's team won first place in the Bateman Competition.
Each of the finalist teams were flown into San Francisco, California to present their campaigns on financial literacy to this year's corporate sponsor, VISA U.S.A.
"The level of professionalism and strategic thinking prevalent among the Bateman Competition teams was superior," said Rosetta Jones, Director of Public Affairs for Visa U.S.A. "Their creative ideas will go far in helping Visa encourage the learning of money management skills."
Each team, which consisted of five PRSSA students and their faculty advisors, received a scholarship award that goes toward their PRSSA chapter and will be recognized with a trophy or plaque at the 2001 National Conference in Atlanta this October.
"Certainly, we are proud of this team and their achievement. They join other outstanding students from the University of Florida who have brought home seven national championship awards in the Bateman Competition. The tradition of excellence in UF's Department of Public Relations continues through the efforts of such fine students", said PRSSA faculty Advisor Kathy Fitzpatrick, from the University of Florida.
This year, 42 PRSSA teams from universities nationwide entered the competition, which is the most prestigious program PRSSA offers. Established in 1973, a national Case Study was founded to allow members of the Public Relations Student Society of America an opportunity to exercise the analytical skills and mature judgement required for public relations problem solving. The name of the competition was changed in 1982 to honor the late J. Carroll Bateman. A charter friend of PRSSA, Mr. Bateman was instrumental in founding PRSSA during his PRSA presidency.
PRSSA is the world's pre-eminent, pre-professional public relations organization. Founded in 1968 by its parent society, PRSA, the organization has grown to include 225 chapters in 43 states and the District of Columbia. It currently has more than 6,500 members.
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