(BLACK PR WIRE) MIAMI GARDENS, FL [November 3, 2008] – Florida Memorial University’s chapter of Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) won the Dr. F.H. Teahan Chapter Award for Chapter Development during the national PRSSA Conference Awards Ceremony at the Detroit Museum of Art in Detroit, Michigan this past week. The chapter’s members, accompanied by chapter advisor Dr. Mary-Angie Salva-Ramirez, accepted the honor in front of an attending audience exceeding 1,000 during the ceremonial event on October 27. The award was given to Florida Memorial’s chapter on the basis of successfully building membership, promoting ongoing activities, maintaining and encouraging active membership involvement, and demonstrating effort and creativity in maintaining the chapter. Dr. Salva-Ramirez and members of the chapter received a $300 monetary award with a plaque as a token to honor their achievements.

“This award is really big news in the world of public relations,” stated Dr. Salva-Ramirez. “Though our chapter is so small, we’ve had two Gary Yoshimura winners, a Betsy Plank Student of the Year winner and now this—a Best Chapter Development award—all in five years!” Dr. Salva-Ramirez admitted that finding students and financial resources to maintain the chapter are constant struggles, but she also acknowledged the diligence that is required in attaining the chapter’s national accomplishments.

Also during the awards ceremony, PRSSA member and senior communications major Tyrone Hall received the Gary Yoshimura Scholarship for his outstanding potential as a future public relations practitioner. He succeeds 2007 alumna Esther Fraser in becoming the second Florida Memorial University student to win the $2,400 award and receive national recognition. Dr. Salva-Ramirez was also a nominee for the Outstanding Faculty Advisor Award during the conference for motivating students and educating within the field.

PRSSA membership is open to all full-time Florida Memorial students. For more information, please contact mramirez@fmuniv.edu or visit www.prssa.org.
About Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA):

In 1968, twenty years after its own establishment, the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) founded the Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA). The declared purpose of PRSSA is to cultivate a favorable and mutually advantageous relationship between students and professional public relations practitioners. The student society aims to foster the understanding of current theories and procedures of the profession, appreciation of the highest ethical ideals and principles, awareness of an appropriate professional attitude, and appreciation of Associate Membership in PRSA and eventually accredited membership. Today, the Public Relations Student Society of America has more than 9,600 members in 284 universities across the country. Source: http://www.prssa.org
About Florida Memorial University:

Located in the City of Miami Gardens, Florida Memorial University is a private, historically Black institution offering 42 undergraduate degree programs and 4 graduate degree programs to a culturally diverse student body. Since its inception in 1879, the University has upheld a commitment to providing a solid foundation for thousands of young people and opening doors to educational opportunities that may have otherwise been closed to them. As South Florida’s only Historically Black College or University (HBCU), it is widely recognized for being the birthplace of the Negro National Anthem, “Lift Ev’ry Voice and Sing” and the home of student Barrington Irving, Jr., the first pilot of African descent and youngest pilot ever to fly solo around the world. For more information, please visit www.fmuniv.edu.