Bethany College’s Department of Communications and Media Arts was recognized with four awards at the annual West Virginia Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) Crystal Awards Gala June 20 in Charleston.
Bethany’s student chapter of the PRSA (Public Relations Student Society of America, PRSSA), department chair M.E. Yancosek Gamble, advisor, received the Crystal Award for “Chapter of the Year,” at the ceremonies held at Edgewood Country Club recognizing achievement statewide in public relations and communications. The award was created to recognize a student chapter’s excellence. The Bethany chapter won for an impressive range of academic, campus and community activities. The PRSSA chapter’s “Tower Promotion Agency” acts as an on-campus service provider for a number of student and college organizations, as well as providing strong support for internships in the public relations area.
Bethany College also received an honorable recognition for its logo promoting this year’s Communication Week 50, as well as honorable mention for Student Activity Council posters designed by senior communications and media arts major Tara Harris, and a press release for Communications Week 50, written by senior communications and media arts major Annie Wilson.
Bethany alumnus George Manahan, president of The Manahan Group advertising and public-relations firm in Charleston, was recognized along with his team with a Crystal Award in the business and industry category for creating the “When I Grow Up” contest for the state’s College Savings Plan, SMART529. The Manahan Group also received recognition in other media categories. Manahan is the professional advisor to the Bethany College PRSSA chapter, along with PRSSA advisors M.E. Yancosek Gamble and Dr. Mort Gamble, assistant to the president.
“This recognition by public-relations professionals speaks to the strong quality, leadership and record of success by our Department of Communications and Media Arts,” said Bethany President Dr. Scott D. Miller. “Receiving statewide honors will further recommend our programs to prospective students seeking quality career preparation in communications fields.”
Bethany College is a small college of national distinction located on a picturesque and historic 1,300-acre campus in the Northern Panhandle of West Virginia. Founded in 1840, Bethany is the state’s oldest private college.
