Kwantlen Polytechnic University public relations student, Sarah Cruickshank, was awarded the highly coveted 2012 Dean Miller - Canadian Public Relations Society (CPRS) Scholarship during the CPRS Vancouver annual general meeting on June 5.
"The Dean Miller Scholarship is a special award within the industry, and a fantastic opportunity for emerging PR professionals, which is why it's such an honour to be this year’s recipient,” says Cruickshank. “This award has allowed me the chance to network and learn from other professionals, utilize my PR skills and receive valuable feedback on my work samples. As a recent Kwantlen graduate this award will go a long way in setting me apart from my peers when applying for jobs."
Kwantlen students have won the CPRS scholarship nine times out of the last ten years – almost every year since the award was created. The scholarship is given each year to the student who best exemplifies the highest values of the public relations profession through academic excellence and through voluntary and paid participation in the field. Scholarship recipients have the added benefit of finding themselves much in demand and many have been offered jobs after they have graduated. The CPRS Dean Miller award carries a cash prize of $1000.
“It’s no surprise that Kwantlen PR grads are successful in achieving this industry recognition. The program is designed according to CPRS curriculum guidelines for public relations and communications management,” says Terri Smolar, coordinator of Kwantlen’s PR diploma program. “When our students graduate, they have the knowledge, industry awareness and technical skills needed to be successful in gaining employment in communications jobs and advancing rapidly in the profession.”
Founded in 1959, CPRS Vancouver is a networking and professional development organization serving public relations and communications practitioners in British Columbia. Members belong to corporations, government, not-for-profit organizations, associations, health care, education, public relations agencies and independent consultancies.