By:Jillianne Zweiacker

Five students pursuing degrees in agricultural communications from the College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources at Oklahoma State University were presented public relations Zenith Awards on Wednesday evening, April 12, at Oklahoma City’s Public Relations Student Society of America Career Night at the Bricktown Brewery, downtown Oklahoma City.

There were 36 entries from eight universities competing in the Zenith Awards competition. OSU had nine entries in the five categories and received seven awards. Categories include public relations writing, public relations publication, electronic media, potpourri and public relations campaign.

Students majoring in agricultural communications at OSU have become extremely competitive over the years. Shelly Sitton, associate professor of agricultural communications, attributes the success of the students to the passionate faculty and talented students.

“We start with very talented students who have strong backgrounds in leadership and strong desires to learn,” Sitton said. “We have the opportunity to mold and shape these students.”

First-place Zenith award winners were Ruth Bobbit and Tierra Layton, potpourri entry, and Larry Mattox, electronic media.

Award of Merit recipients were Courtney Hentges, writing; Dustin Mielke, electronic media; and the Cowboy Journal, OSU, publication.

Hentges also received an honorable mention in writing.

The entries must be original projects completed in class or during internships by the students.

According to Sitton, this is the third year that agricultural communications students have competed in the Zenith Award competition.

Zenith Award judges, representing Oklahoma City PRSA, were Debbie Anglin, Ashley Barcum, Danielle Ezell, Harold Holman, Holley Manghum, Andy Oden, Eric Oesch, Dustin Pyeatt, Diana Rogers, Summer Short, Sam Sims and Amy Welch.

The statewide Zenith Award competition began in 1998 to recognize outstanding work by public relations students. The competition is sponsored by the Oklahoma City PRSA chapter. According to the PRSA Web site, PRSA is the world’s largest organization for public relations specialists. It has nearly 20,000 members organized into 112 chapters. It was chartered in 1947 to advance the public relations profession and to provide members with professional development opportunities. The PRSSA Web site states that the Public Relations Student Society of America was founded in 1968, with the intention of cultivating a favorable and mutually beneficial relationship between students and public relations specialists.

Although the Zenith Awards are sponsored by the Oklahoma City PRSA chapter, students do not have to be a PRSSA member to participate. The contest is open to any student pursuing a career in the public relations field.

 “I think students deserve credit for the work they do,” Sitton said. “I think that it is good for students in our program to compete against others who are outside of the agricultural communications field.”