For Immediate Release
November 16, 2009
Contact Information

Joyce R. Forchion
(305)626-3624
joyce.forchion@fmuniv.edu

(BPRW)FLORIDA MEMORIAL UNIVERSITY STUDENTS WIN BIG AT 2009 NATIONAL PUBLIC RELATIONS STUDENT SOCIETY OF AMERICA (PRSSA) CONVENTION

Members of historically-Black institution's small, yet thriving Public Relations Student: Society of America(PRSSA) claim victories over 250 other colleges and university chapters

(BLACK PR WIRE)MIAMI GARDENS, FL [NOVEMBER 16, 2009] -Tyrone Hall, Talithia Carter, and Terrance Davis won prestigious public relations awards at the 2009 National PRSSA Conference in San Diego, California this week. All three award winners are stellar students and members of the University's chapter of PRSSA (Public Relations Student Society of America) under the leadership of advisor Dr. Mary-Angie Salva-Ramirez, Associate Professor of Communication.

Under Dr. Salva-Ramirez's leadership, members of the chapter have won countless honors for outstanding work. "Talithia, Terrance and Tyrone understand the importance of hard work, diligence and respect. They also possess an insatiable desire to learn and, eventually, succeed in the field" she said. "I'm extremely proud of their accomplishments and can't wait to call them my colleagues in the not so distant future."

A New York native, Tyrone Hall won the PRSSA's National Gold Key Award, which is the highest individual honor among PRSSA members. The award was given to Tyrone based on his academic excellence in public relations as well as his leadership qualities in PRSSA. During the national conference, Tyrone also received an honorable mention for his Multicultural Scholarship application.

Tyrone has won a number of scholarships at the national and local level as a PRSSA member. In 2008, he was the recipient of the Gary Yoshimura Scholarship, a national honor awarded to students who demonstrate financial need and outstanding potential as a public relations professional. He is also one of only two students in the history of PRSA Miami's Endowment to be awarded the Ev Clay Scholarship twice. He is also a past president of the University's PRSSA chapter.

Talithia Carter is the PRSSA chapter vice-president and brought home the National President Citation and an honorable mention for the Multicultural Scholarship for her raw talent and ingenuity in the public relations field.Naturally charismatic and inquisitive, this Miami native also won the 2009 Ev Clay Scholarship from the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) Miami Chapter Endowment Fund, representing the University's communication department among students from the University of Miami, Florida International University, and Miami Dade College. With a 3.833 grade point average, Talithia also serves as a Student Assistant in the Office of Public Affairs at Florida Memorial.

Terrance Davis is the PRSSA chapter president at Florida Memorial University and received the National President Citation. A Daytona Beach native, Terrance was awarded for his diligence and promise in the public relations field and for championing a campus fundraising campaign for his chapter members to travel to the San Diego conference.
Earlier this year, Terrance received the 2009 Ev Clay Scholarship from the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) Miami Chapter Endowment Fund for $1,500. Following in Tyrone's footsteps, Terrence became the second male PRSSA member to win both the Ev Clay Scholarship and hold the position of chapter president.

PRSSA membership is open to all full-time Florida Memorial students. For more information, please contact mramirez@fmuniv.edu or visit www.prssa.org <http://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 <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 41 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 Barrington Irving, Jr., the first and youngest pilot of African descent to fly solo around the world.
For more information, please contact the Office of Public Affairs at (305)626-3624 or visit www.fmuniv.edu <http://www.fmuniv.edu/> .