Hey undergrads! Do you want the opportunity to apply your education to a real-life scenario? Maybe win $1,000 in the process?  Test your PR Prowess by entering the eighth-annual Utah PR Student of the Year competition, sponsored by the Greater Salt Lake PRSA chapter.

Your assignment: Develop a year-long campaign that incorporates both fundamental and creative strategies and tactics for achieving The Living Plant Aquarium‘s goals.

Get all the details, including the goals and objectives set by The Living Planet Aquarium:
2013 PRSA Student of Year Call for Entries

Entry deadline is Friday, March 22, 2013 at 5 p.m., so don’t delay.

Testimonials from previous winners:

Randee Jensen
Weber State University
2011 PR Student of the Year Winner

“The Utah PR student of the Year competition gave me the chance to apply what I learned in the classroom to a real-world scenario. It’s the perfect way to gain experience in public relations and network with influential PR professionals in the area. My participation in the event provided as much value as any of my internships, and the competition was a fun way to evaluate my skills against other students. ”

Courtney Lewis
Utah State University
2009 & 2010 PR Student of the Year Winner

“I love that the Utah PR Student of the Year competition focuses on multiple aspects of PR–writing, pitching a story, presenting a campaign, crisis management. It’s the kind of hands-on education you won’t get in the classroom. Why should you enter? Enter so you can learn from experts in your field, so you can stretch your brain and think outside-the-box, so you can earn the easiest $1,000 you’ll ever make, and so you can represent your school. Currently, I work as the PR/Marketing Director for Windcrest Pediatric Dentistry in San Antonio, Texas.”

Britnee Johnston
Utah Valley University
2008 Utah PR Student of the Year

“Competing in the Utah PR Student of the Year was one of the best choices I ever did for my career. It bolstered my confidence and experience and helped me make connections that led to a great job after college. Months after the event, one of the judges reached out to me when a communications position became available at his local PR agency, Intrepid. I wouldn’t have had such a great opportunity come to me if it weren’t for this competition and it also made for an easier transition from college into the real PR world. In short, you will have a chance to meet professionals who could offer you a PR job in the future as well as make some great friends with other young students/professionals at the event who could later give you a Dutch oven as a wedding present. True story. Currently, I am the Communications Manager for Thanksgiving Point, one of the largest non-profits in Utah.”

Dan Sorenson
University of Utah
2007 PR Student of the Year Winner

“The Student of the Year competition opened up dozens of doors for me. Through the competition, I proved that I could create ideas on a professional level, write on a professional level, and present on a professional level.  I was selected as one of four finalists and eventually won the coveted title of PR Student of the Year. Two weeks later, I received a call from The Summit Group, a local communications agency. I was told they saw me at the competition (I never actually met anyone from the company at the awards luncheon). They were interested in having me come in for an interview. That February, when a position opened up, they offered me a full-time job as a Public Relations Coordinator – three months BEFORE I graduated. Today, I work at Fusion-io creating and running PR and Social Media campaigns.”

Emily Allen
Brigham Young University
2011 Utah PR Student of the Year Finalist

“The PR Student of the Year competition was the best learning experience I had in college (and I’m not just saying that). No PR student should miss this opportunity. It was a great way to put my skills to the test and prove to myself and local PR professionals that I own a spot in the PR world. The feedback and mentoring available during this competition helped me fine-tune my knowledge and skills to better launch my career. While the money is a nice perk, the experience and networking opportunity is invaluable. As a result, I ended my Senior year with a career in pocket and a plaque in hand. I am currently a Communication Coordinator at Intrepid in Salt Lake City.”

Tiffany Harston
Brigham Young University
2010 PR Student of the Year Finalist

“The student competition was one of the most helpful things I did as an undergraduate. I practiced valuable skills like writing and presenting and creating a campaign, and I got great feedback. I was also able to do a couple things I had never done before: pitch a reporter and present a campaign to PR professionals. The competition took a lot of time as far as preparation but was way worth it. In the end, I had greater confidence, new mentors, more experience, and won $500. I wished I had known about it earlier so I could have participated twice.”