Awards PRSSA

"The pros, the champions, the ones who are determined to succeed (and you're one of them), do the little things right, consistently." -Bob Burg

Young Alumni Achievement Awards

Cindy Blikre-Roche

Cindy Blikre-Roche, ’91, originally from Wahpeton, N.D., graduated Phi Beta Kappa and summa cum laude from UND with a bachelor’s degree in public relations. Cindy was active in numerous student activities including Telesis, the University’s student alumni association, and a member of Alpha Phi sorority.

She continued her education at Northwestern University in Evanston, Ill., where she earned a master’s degree in integrated marketing communications.

Cindy began her career path at Ameritech’s corporate headquarters in Chicago (now Southwestern Bell) as manager of brand communications. She later joined the world of advertising, working for J. Walter Thompson and Ammirati Puris Lintas (now Lowe) advertising agencies.

In 1999 Cindy joined Leo Burnett Chicago. Over the years, she worked on several high profile accounts including: Morgan Stanley, the United States Postal Service and Sara Lee Foods.

Today, Cindy is a senior vice president and account director at the Chicago office of Leo Burnett Worldwide. She is responsible for running a portion of the agency’s North American Procter & Gamble business. With a global network of 96 offices in 84 countries and over 8,000 employees, Leo Burnett Worldwide is one of the world’s largest agency networks. The company’s clients include blue chip giants such as Allstate, General Motors, Hallmark, Kellogg’s, McDonald’s, Procter & Gamble, Nintendo, and Samsung.

Cindy and her husband, Richard, live in Wilmette, Ill. They have one daughter.

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Carla Christofferson

Carla Christofferson, ’89, a Tolna, N.D., native, graduated summa cum laude from UND with a bachelor’s degree in public relations and a minor in psychology. In 1989 she was crowned Miss North Dakota. Carla continued her education at Yale University and graduated with a law degree in 1992.

Carla has spent the past 15 years as a litigation attorney with the law firm of O’Melveny & Myer. She is currently a partner in O’Melveny’s Los Angeles office and was recognized as a Southern California “Super Lawyer” in 2005 and 2006. In 2001 she served as the firm’s first female national hiring partner, and in 2002 she served on the firm’s executive committee. From 2004-06, Carla was the talent development partner for O’Melveny. In that position, she developed and oversaw initiatives designed to better recruit, train, mentor, and evaluate attorneys at the firm. She is a member of the O’Melveny Values Award committee, which recognizes attorneys and staff who most exemplify the O’Melveny values of excellence, citizenship and leadership. Carla was a recipient of the award in 2005.

In 2006 Carla and her business partner, Katherine Goodman, formed Gemini Basketball, L.L.C., which then purchased the WNBA’s Los Angeles Sparks in December 2006. In addition to her new entry into the sports world, Carla is a member of several non-profit boards of directors, including the Los Angeles Public Library Foundation and the Women’s Care Cottage, an organization serving homeless women and children in the Los Angeles area.

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PRSSA Member Awards

Jessica receiving her awards!

"City of Brotherly Love" offers UND student
more than cheese steak and soft pretzels

UND PRSSA member Jessica Mongeon was awarded the Norman S. Fenichel, APR Scholarship ($500) and the Stephen D.
Pisinski Memorial Scholarship ($1500) during the Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) Conference in Philadelphia on October 18-22, 2007.

This year’s conference marked the kickoff for the 40th Anniversary year of the national student organization. Unique events include the special 40th Anniversary highlights; Meet the Living Legends sponsored by the Plank Center for Leadership in Public Relations and the 40th Anniversary Awards Ceremony and Dinner. PRSSA members had the privilege of attending three PRSA general sessions featuring keynote speakers - acclaimed actress and humanitarian activist Mia Farrow, Meet the Press moderator Tim Russert and political commentator Donna Brazile.

Mongeon engaged in five action packed days that included development sessions, a career development exhibition, a public relations vs. media panel and a featured workshop entitled How PR Can Help Save the World. The keynote speaker for
this workshop was Rich Jernstedt, chief marketing officer, executive vice president and senior partner on the corporate staff of Fleishman-Hillard, one of the country’s leading public relations firms.

The Norman S. Fenichel, APR Scholarship award, established in 2004, honors a PRSSA member who has achieved outstanding success in their academic studies of public relations and an excellent understanding of ethical conduct in the profession. The
award has been funded through a generous contribution by Mr. & Dr. Douglas M. Fenichel (Doug Fenichel is Norman’s son.)

The Stephen D. Pisinski Memorial Scholarship was developed in 2002 by Allison & Partners in memory of Steve Pisinski, APR, Fellow PRSA and founder of The Montgomery Group. Each fall, a $1,500 scholarship is awarded to a qualified public
relations student chosen by the Selection Committee.


40th Anneversary Award

To celebrate its 40th anniversary, the Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) has created a one-time $1,000 award to be given to an outstanding public relations student. Because this year marks a historical milestone for PRSSA, it is appropriate to offer this award as an exclusive and elite honor to a PRSSA member who displays extraordinary talent in his or her professional endeavors. The winner of this unique 40th Anniversary Award will be recognized at the 2008 National Assembly in March.

Entries will be judged based on the following:

  • An essay of no more than 1,000 words on the following: As PRSSA embraces its past and its promising future, reflect on where the field of public relations has been, and more importantly, where you see the profession going in the next 40 years. (Note: Applicants will be evaluated on his/her thoughts and ability to clearly and logically express them)

  • A current resume that lists activities and professional experiences

  • A signed letter of recommendation from the nominee's faculty or professional advisor and/or internship supervisor


DEADLINE
Deadline for submission of the completed application and accompanying materials must be received at PRSSA by January 28, 2008.

JUDGING
Former PRSSA leaders who are now members of PRSA will judge submissions. The winner will be honored at the PRSSA 2008 National Assembly.

APPLY
Please send completed application, essay, resume and letter(s) of recommendation by January 28, 2008 to:

40th Anniversary Award
Public Relations Student Society of America
33 Maiden Lane, 11th Floor
New York, NY 10038


Public Relations Student Society of America
University of North Dakota
School of Communication
221 Centennial Avenue Stop 7169
701.777.4116
prssa@und.edu

University of North DakotaGrand Forks, ND 58202Toll Free: 1-800-CALL-UND • Tel: 701-777-2011
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