Student Corner: FGCU Student Chapter hosted nonprofit panel

Florida Gulf Coast University's student chapter of the Florida Public Relations Association hosted a nonprofit panel discussion on Wednesday, Feb. 9, 2011, from 5-6:15 p.m. in Lutgert Hall, Room 2202, featuring Southwest Florida's nonprofit public relations professionals who shared their expertise with FGCU's PR students.

Panelists included: Sarah Owen, CEO, Community Cooperative Ministries, Inc. also known as CCMI; Chelsea Birczak, public relations director, Lee County Alliance for the Arts; Kirsten O'Donnell, director of public relations and marketing, Goodwill Industries of Southwest Florida; Melissa Simontis, director of development, PACE Center for Girls; Connie Ramos-Williams, CEO and president, CONRIC Holdings, LLC; and Maran Hilgendorf , communications manager, Charlotte Harbor National Estuary Program. Panelists shared career tips, professional experience, internship advice and Service Learning opportunities at multiple nonprofit agencies throughout Southwest Florida.

Communication and public relations students know the value of gaining professional experience, while in school, is imperative to the start a successful career. "Bringing nonprofit PR professionals to our campus for these informal panel discussions is a wonderful way to connect our public relations students to these industry leaders on the many ways in which students can benefit from being involved with these organizations and how local organizations can benefit from student involvement," said David Simmons, president, FGCU's FPRA student chapter. "It's a great opportunity for students to network for future internships and jobs; additionally, it's a great opportunity for students to see how they can become more involved with our Southwest Florida nonprofit community."

Student Corner: Think Outside of the Book this Summer!

Just in case you thought PR learning stopped with the last final of the semester, FPRA has several things in store that can change your thinking. Summertime is one of the best times of the year to grab that perfect career opportunity! Below are a few tips for making the most of your summer vacation:

• Internships: Unless you're taking summer classes, you've got a few extra hours in your day to fill, and internship opportunities are great ways to make those ever important contacts. Check with your school's student services resources and academic advisor for potential openings.
• FPRA Conference Student Track: This is really a two birds-one stone kind of event. Not only can you attend top-notch training sessions and seminars for a fraction of the professional cost, but you can also network with PR pros from around Florida. Check out this brochure to learn more!
• Tweet-up with a Keynote Speaker: The 2010 FPRA Annual Conference will be held in Naples at the Naples Grande Resort on August 8-11. In addition to the Student track mentioned above, there are also several events happening that might be of particular interest to students. Deirdre Breakenridge, co-founder of the #PRStudChat on Twitter (held monthly between public relations professionals and students) and one of the keynote speakers of the conference, is participating in a special tweet up on Sunday night at 5 p.m., directly before the President’s Welcome Reception. All professionals and students are encouraged to attend. This is an excellent opportunity for new connections and mentorships to form offline with Deirdre and other PR practitioners.

Extra Credit! 


Sunset Social at Conference: This event is a fundraiser for the Florida Public Relations Education Foundation (FPREF). This foundation grants scholarships to PR students each year and the fundraiser is a really fun way to find out more and to chat up other PR professionals. Everyone lets their hair down a bit to dance, bid on silent auction items at a themed event. This year it fits in with the "Big Picture" theme of conference, sort of. It will be an 80s party (because everything was "big" in the 80s). Plan to see a few traditionally straight laced pros in their funkiest neon get ups from a totally rad decade! Watch for a flyer coming out soon on our blog and the state site: http://www.fpra.org/.