Students take on leadership roles with wolverine public relations firm

UVU’s student-run public relations firm has announced its spring 2010 account executives and officers.

Alisa Perry was named the Wolverine PR Firm president, Marianna Henry will serve as vice president of external affairs, and vice president of internal affairs will be Steven Anderson.

“I was excited [to be named an officer],” said Henry. “A little nervous to be in charge, in a way, but it was really cool to be able to step into that position.”

Account executives and their public relations clients include Jill Kaufusi, American Red Cross (Mountain Valley Chapter); London Munsey, Best Friends Animal Society; London Peterson, Boys and Girls Club of Utah County; Emilie Smith, Food and Care Coalition; Nelson Villegas, Gang Task Force; and Matt Pinnel, Provo Library.

“We’ve got a great team of leaders this semester,” said PR Firm advisor Linda Walton. “The officers are great at leading the entire effort and the account executives are really stepping out to lead the group and stay in contact with the clients.”

The Wolverine PR Firm is a student-run public relations firm that manages accounts for local non-profit organizations. The firm helps students develop portfolio materials while getting practical real-world public relations experience.

“They get to not only do the hands-on experience work for the client, but they also get to work within an organization that is completely run by them,” said Henry.

Team members and account executives also gain skills needed to work in the PR industry by doing surveys, creating news releases, developing websites and planning special events.

“Communications skills are huge,” said Peterson. “There is a lot of communication that is going on all the time; every day, weekly, just for this class. Good communication skills, responsibility, and organization.”

The Wolverine PR Firm will put their work on display at a trade show in April. Clients, PRSA, PRSSA, faculty and staff members and other communication students are all invited.

“It is a showcase of everything that you’ve done for the organization through that semester,” said Henry.

The students’ booths at the trade show will include everything from press releases to videos that were created for their clients.

The Wolverine PR Firm trade show will be April 14 in SC203 at 5:30 p.m.