Tower Creative Communications: Past, Present, & Future

By Abigail Roering

Nestled under the stairs of the Janet Ayers Academic Center on Belmont University’s campus is a small room that is more often than not, bustling with student activity. Recently, that room is quiet, and it is difficult to find a student working there like you would have one year ago. Instead, the creative juices flow online in a Zoom meeting twice a week as the associates and directors of Tower Creative Communications plan their next project. As one of only 20 student-run, PRSSA-affiliated public relations firms in the United States, Belmont’s Tower Creative is a unique opportunity for all students on campus. Consisting of on average a dozen associates each semester, TCC acts as a practicum that lets students try their hand at real life agency work and work with actual clients to develop public relations strategies and tactics. Each week, the members of the firm meet twice to collaborate on their client activities and dedicate an hour to working on client accounts. Here, the team works together as a cohesive group and is overseen by the panel of student directors who facilitate meetings, organize tasks and manage the expectations of associates and clients. 

Past

Tower Creative Communications was started 13 years ago in an effort to encourage students to expand their learning beyond the classroom. Since that time, over 100 associates have participated and many say it really helped them develop the skills they needed to enter the workforce. Chelsea Lomartire, a former executive director, calls Tower Creative “one of the best experiences [she has] ever had” and recommends joining to everyone. 

Present

Life at Tower has recently changed. With the continuation of the COVID-19 pandemic, Tower Creative Communications has switched to a fully online format, which brings new insights and challenges. “Working with everyone online has been interesting,” said a current associate, who wished to remain anonymous, “I miss seeing everyone in person, but the online stuff has given us a chance to develop new skills that we can bring to our professional lives after Belmont. Who knows when we’ll be in an office? So, learning [to use online tools like Zoom] is awesome!” 

For the Fall 2020 semester, associates are working as one large team focused on one client all semester, following a more in-house model of public relations development. Behaving in this hive mindset has created a tightknit community that intermingles with each other in and outside of the work environment. With all the creative minds working towards a common goal for one client, TCC and its associates are able to craft a comprehensive campaign and do more work than ever for their client. As a functioning PR firm, delivering great work to the clients is essential to Tower Creative.  Given that the work of TCC is focused online, this year has been based in social media.  Belmont University’s public relations department has recently unveiled its new social media management major, and Tower Creative Communications is a great place for a complete immersion experience that allows for hands-on work every day.  

Future

Part of the reason TCC has stood the test of time is due to its inclusivity. Although primarily communication and public relations majors, Tower Creative Communications’ one-credit practicum is open to any student who is interested. This allows for a diversified group of associates and encourages inter-departmental relationship building. In college, it is easy to stay within your college or major because it is your primary focus. Through having open enrollment, Tower lets students visit other disciplines and learning skills that are marketable in any future work setting, such as professional communication and working in a team.  

Additionally, this firm is a great resume builder and free elective. Every day at Tower Creative is one that is spent learning and developing marketable skills that directly correlate to skills needed both inside and outside of the classroom. Many associates use the connections they form here to launch their careers. Most students report that TCC is the first item on their resumes that potential employers ask about and is often the item they are most impressed by at the end of the interview. Working in an agency setting while in school and gaining class credit gives a student a competitive edge when it comes to their peers, which is definitely a large portion of the appeal of Tower Creative. 

Wherever a student’s talent lies, Tower Creative Communications is the forum to expand upon that talent. Tower Creative is always looking for new members to fill their vacant spaces in the next semester. The team of associates and directors at Tower Creative are working especially hard to ensure that the organization lasts for many more years to come. As you look around the Creative Grounds, bustling with student activity and collaboration, you can see the dedication in every keystroke and mood-lightening joke. The people in Tower Creative want to see it succeed and want to bring others into the firm so that they can reap the rewards that Tower Creative Communications has to offer everyone who participates.

Abigail Roering is a double major in Public Relations and Social Media Management and
currently serves as the Executive Director of Tower Communications. If you’re interested in
joining Tower Creative as an associate or working with as a client, please check out the website,
www.towercreative.org.

Virtual Preview Day Do’s and Don’ts

By Lucy Walsh

While comfort levels vary concerning travel during the COVID-19 pandemic, high school students navigating the college search process are taking on a whole new experience than those who’ve enrolled before them. This is most likely one of the biggest commitments they have ever individually gotten to make, and they’re doing it at ages 16-18 during some really peculiar times! Even five years later I can remember how much anticipation and sometimes stress I put on myself to reconcile if the best choice, safest choice, most fun choice, most cost effective choice and most growth-inducing choice could somehow all line up to be the same thing. By some miracle, Belmont has been able to become all of those things to me, and now serving as a Bruin Recruiter for Belmont’s Office of Admissions I get to help prospective public relations students navigate the same thing. After having the first virtual Preview Day of the 2020-2021 academic year under my belt, I finally feel qualified to share some advice on how to make the most of the college admissions processes, even if you’re doing it from home for now! 

 

DON’T: Forget to register in advance!

Signing up online is a simple process, and it ensures that Belmont will be expecting you. While this is a no cost event, reservations are still required so admissions counselors and academic colleges can prepare accordingly. Also, this creates a BU4U account that can be used to schedule future visits or even apply to the university during a high school student’s senior year! To register for an upcoming preview day, visit http://www.belmont.edu/admissions/visiting/previewday/index.html. 

 

DO: Consider academics!

While you might not have to pack your car or book a flight, it is still best to put some work in before a virtual visit. One of the most important things to take a look at is what major or academic college you might want to visit during our academic sessions. Listing a major on your registration isn’t like signing a marriage certificate- you aren’t in any way making a binding or lasting commitment! However, it’s always a good idea to have a starting place that lines up with some of your interests. 

 

For example, I love speaking to prospective students interested in public relations, but I would also never hesitate to refer them to our friends in the media studies or marketing departments if they decided they wanted to explore related fields! Additionally, you might think you could see yourself as an entrepreneur, but then learn that a degree in creative and entertainment industries or Christian leadership could help get you to that goal. That’s what these visits are all about! Pick a starting place, but feel free to explore. Learn more about each academic college here: http://www.belmont.edu/academics/colleges-and-schools.html. 

 

DON’T: Think that you can’t get a well rounded touring experience virtually.

When you think about it, people have traditionally chosen restaurants and booked vacations virtually all the time. While making a four year commitment is a bit bigger than a weekend getaway or dinner reservation, you can still apply some of those same skills to scoping out services within things like dining services and residential life. Engage with the virtual tours, and put your Yelp and VRBO stalking skills to work! You can watch virtual residence hall and campus tours here: http://www.belmont.edu/admissions/visiting/online-info-sessions.html. 

 

DO: Make it personal!

The entire collection of staff, faculty and current students hosting Preview Day and other admissions events are truly there because they want to spend time helping you feel at home on Belmont’s campus, so engage with them meaningfully with any questions you have! No one wants you to feel like just another muted mic in a Zoom room, so speak up if you need clarification or have a really specific concern. We love hearing people ask about things like what it might be like for a student moving from Chicago who hasn’t spent a lot of time in Nashville or how a student could potentially blend their love of both music and politics. 

 

On the other side of the coin, feel free to ask staff and students about their own personal Belmont experiences! Some of my favorite Preview Day memories have come from personal moments where parents have asked my advisor why she wanted to teach at Belmont instead of her former state university, and I vividly remember students wanting to know about my own experience going to a different college as my twin brother. In my opinion, the people are truly what makes Belmont University special, and I promise that we want to get to know you as you might want to get to know us! 

 

At this time, it is undetermined if Preview Days for the rest of the academic year will be able to operate in an in-person capacity, but mark your calendars accordingly to join us on November 7th and 14th! However, I am sure that with these do’s and don’ts in mind that you can make the most of any virtual, hybrid or on campus experience that those days may hold! To learn more about preview days, contact the Office of Admissions or Dr. Kevin Trowbridge. 

 

Lucy Walsh is a senior public relations and publishing student from Evansville, Indiana. Alongside her duties as the editor of the PR at Belmont blog, she is an active executive board member of Belmont PRSSA and Belmont Ambassadors. She can typically be found listening to the full discography of Taylor Swift, walking Belmont Blvd. or writing snail mail to her friends and family. The photo included in this post was taken during the November 2019 Preview Day.

 

Lessons in PR & Spirituality

By Caroline Bougher

When I imagined myself graduating college, I envisioned landing a dream public relations job in Washington D.C., living in an apartment in the city and applying the knowledge I’ve learned over the past four years into the start of my career. Unfortunately like everyone else, COVID-19 drastically changed these circumstances. Instead, I was forced to finish my degree and internship at Delight Ministries from home, and begin a long season of applying for jobs and waiting.

I became saved during my senior year of high school and college led me to grow even closer to God. However I have always struggled with putting God first in my life. Spending time in prayer and in the Bible was always something in the back burner of my brain. Once I moved back home, I knew quarantine was going to be a tough and transformative season, and made it a priority to grow closer to the Lord and put Him first. I set up a corner in my room as my “prayer corner” and dove into devotionals each morning. I began to enjoy the stillness of the season and wanted to help others find the peace during a crazy time.

During college I had written a blog that discussed my faith, advice and trials I went through, and published a devotional story for Delight Ministries. Many people had come up to me and told me these stories have affected them in some way, that I wanted to grow my blog even further and help others during this season. 

During quarantine, I decided to create an Instagram page, @createdbycare_, that encouraged college and young adult women that they are cared for by Christ and have a purpose. I started off by creating graphics on InDesign with motivational words and scripture aimed at bringing people closer to God. I ended up writing a few more blog posts, created a Pinterest account, and an Etsy page where I sold mugs that said “created for a purpose”! 

However, over time I felt burned out. I had put in so much effort and wasn’t getting as many results as I had hoped for. I fell into the bad habit of spending time in my prayer corner with God and posting about what I had read that day. I was comparing myself to other Christian bloggers and was only posting to get content posted. My heart wasn’t in it anymore and I abruptly took a break from my account.

 While I’m not completely done with @createdbycare_, I’ve learned that it takes time to effectively grow a brand. Even though I was using the tactics I learned in my public relations classes, I wasn’t seeing overnight growth and felt burned out. Ultimately I think it’s because I was doing what I thought other people wanted and was trying to grow it as fast as I could, instead of figuring out what I wanted my brand to look like. 

There are millions of opinions out there telling you what to do, but if you aren’t loving the work you’re doing you won’t feel fulfilled and can’t help others. While I’ve stepped back and shifted my focus to applying for PR jobs, I plan to return to @createdbycare_ stronger than ever with a refreshed vision and mindset to create a community where we grow with The Lord together.

Caroline Baugher is a 2020 graduate of Belmont University, where she studied both public relations and journalism. She originally hails from the great state of Virginia, and she has a strong passion for women’s ministry. She is a published blogger and has contributed to devotionals for Delight Ministries. 

A COVID-19 Gap Year

By Evan Dorian

I’m Evan Dorian, a Belmont student who’s taking a gap year during the 2020-2021 school year. There’s nothing that hasn’t already been said about how “unprecedented” the events of this year have been, so I’ll save all of that and instead talk a little about the pros of taking a gap year during a pandemic.

I like to think that I’m relatively aware of the potential fallout of the coronavirus pandemic as it relates to my college experience, so when we were sent home from Belmont in March, I was pretty sure that would be the last time I’d be on campus for quite some time. And while many students were eagerly preparing to return to campus in the fall with everything “back to normal” I came to realize that that was an impossibility.

I truly respect the dedication of the thousands of Belmont students who returned to campus and have been playing their part in ensuring a safe experience for the others who did. But I instead elected to stay at home this semester, and almost assuredly the spring semester as well, for my own sake as well as the sake of my higher-risk parents.

While many students across the world have decided to stay home but enroll in a full slate of online classes, I couldn’t bring myself to give up a whole semester’s worth of my Belmont experience while I stay at home, or even to go to campus and subject myself to the risks associated with doing so. I valued the experiences of my first year at Belmont too much to miss out on the many aspects of the college experience that are not socially distant and are better without masks and risk of infection.

I’m privileged enough to be able to essentially put the rest of my Belmont experience on hold. I don’t feel like I’m abandoning Belmont by any means, but rather saving the rest of my time there for when the time is right. In the meantime, I do have some idea of how to make the most of my year off. I won’t be hiking through Europe or sampling Southeast Asian cuisine, but I will be making connections and developing skills that can help me regain my footing in the educational and professional world when I return to it.

I started a blog called “Mind the Gap” to chronicle my gap year, but it took a little bit of a different shape than I expected it to, and I think I’ll be changing it even more in the future. I was skeptical that Belmont students would be returning to campus at all, so I was operating on the expectation that it could serve as a means of helping the student body feel unified over social media while they were apart. I think it did for a time, but now that students are actually on campus, I think the blog would be better served by content that’s relevant to just me – I’m okay with giving myself the spotlight sometimes!

What I hope to do with my gap year is what may very well fill the blog – and while I’ve got two online classes to worry about, I have an idea of what I want my next big personal project to be. Any public relations major will tell you that networking is key, and I personally love networking. While I miss the in-person aspect of networking, it’s easy (sometimes surprisingly so) to get a hold of people with whom you want to connect. As a sports fan interested in public relations, social media management and communication in general, a dream job of mine would be to work in PR and/or social media for a professional sports team. The return of the NBA season and a desire to network inspired me to put together a comprehensive list of as many people I could find in the PR and social media departments of the 30 NBA teams so I can “cold call” them over the course of the next few months.

I dipped my toe into networking earlier in the summer when a friend and I reached out to some sports journalists and broadcasters, but I feel more confident now than ever before that PR is where I’m most comfortable and successful, so I’d like to embark on a networking project that supports my goal of becoming a better PR student.

It’ll be a difficult experience waiting out the next year before I hope to return to Belmont in person, vaccinated against COVID-19, but I’m hopeful about what I can accomplish in the interim.

 

Evan Dorian Belmont student who, you guessed it, is taking a gap year right now. He’s completed his freshman year and is taking a handful of credit hours over the next two semesters to maintain enrollment. Evan is a proud PR major, and one of the directors of Tower Creative Communications, Belmont’s student-run firm. He’s a fan of basketball, jigsaw puzzles and basketball jigsaw puzzles.

Welcome to Zoom University!

By Noelle Peters

Welcome to Zoom Belmont University’s class of 2024! As this was not what anyone could have predicted the year to be, I would have never in a million years imagined to be starting my college freshman year off through a screen while I was still home in the midwest. However, I am glad to have started this crazy journey at Belmont University, even if it started with a worldwide pandemic outbreak.

They say what makes the school atmosphere lively and bright are the students, but I believe that all the staff justly deserve some of that appreciation as well! I have not even been a college student for even a month, yet I have never felt an enormous amount of belonging, than what I have experienced through Belmont. First, the dedication of all the staff deserves a round of applause. Whether it is the late nights or early mornings, the staff have spent an enormous amount of time planning every last detail to make each student still feel a sense of welcomeness, even if it is through a screen. Even though completing college from a Zoom account is not ideal for anyone, I have loved how professors have been creating breakout sessions to connect the class, so that we can learn more about each other while still being engaged with the lesson. For example, in my Public Relations Principles course, we have already been broken into several weekly breakout sessions to discuss the lesson and how it applies within an organization. With Belmont offering this course to freshmen, I am already able to be exposed and aware of what makes a strategic and dedicated public relations practitioner. I always leave this class in awe and amazement from all that I have learned in such a short amount of time! I have no doubt that with the help of all the PR professors at Belmont and the community of Nashville, I am able to learn how to become the best practitioner that I can.

One of my biggest worries with staying digital for the fall semester, was that I wouldn’t be able to meet new friends through a screen, but I was proven wrong! The Belmont students that I have met are from all around the country, and they all share an eagerness to get to know each other. This eagerness makes me even more excited to one day move on campus and meet all of them in person! This is one of the many numerous reasons why I chose to call Belmont University my home for the next four years. It continues to be a safe, loving, Christian atmosphere for all, and it’s filled with students and staff that are supportive and encouraging. By motivating each student to find who they are and why God placed them on this earth, Belmont has helped students feel a sense of belonging and purpose in this world. 

I could dwell on the negatives of not being able to experience the “normal” college start of a freshman student, but instead I continue to choose to think positive and think of all that Belmont has given me already. I have already been greeted with welcomed arms from my Towering Traditions group, created several strong friendships, have introduced myself to all my professors and all of that has been completed through a digital screen! My heart already feels a sense of joy as I look ahead at all the opportunities that Belmont offers their students and the guidance that is given to us by the outstanding staff members. Therefore, as I start this journey I am already reminded of the great future that is ahead for me. I may be 435 miles away, but Belmont University has made me feel even closer than that!

Noelle Peters is a freshman public relations major from Illinois. Beginning her freshmen curriculum online due to the COVID-19 pandemic, she will be a member of Belmont’s class of 2024. Noelle holds a great amount of love for her friends, family and faith, and she is both excited and optimistic about the opportunities Belmont University has to offer her.

3 Things I Have Learned Working as a Social Media Assistant

By Olivia Blumb

If you find yourself in a similar situation as me, you may have found yourself working as a social media assistant, without much experience in social media. For the last five months, I have had to revive a company’s social media platforms. Though our main focus is Instagram, we have also had to plan for other platforms such as Facebook, since one of our largest target audience’s is known to use Facebook more. 

Throughout the last few months, I have learned what to do and what not to do on social media through trial and error. Trial and error taught me things that I couldn’t have learned in a textbook, I had to experience it for myself. The following points are things I would recommend to a social media newbie, like myself, who is managing someone else’s socials. 

  1. Know which platforms your audience uses. It is key to know where your audience will find your content. If they are in a younger generation, Instagram is probably where you should post. If they are an older generation, I recommend using Facebook. That said, use multiple platforms to reach more people! When creating your content, plan for it to be used on multiple platforms, and choose a design that can be formatted to fit on each one. 
  2. Plan your content ahead of time! Before, managing a company’s social media, I never really put in any thought about planning content weeks in advance. As I manage this social media account with two others, it is important for us to plan ahead. I write copy and create graphics so each post can be approved prior to when it needs to be posted. Since I work in collaboration with 2 others, we use a Google Sheets, where each block is a post and is color coded.
  3. Be consistent. Being consistent doesn’t mean you have to post 24/7. To me, it means keep your messaging consistent in all of your posts. In my company, we are always trying to initiate bookings, so every post has call to action line that says, “DM us or visit our website to book now.” Even if your post doesn’t have a call to action, incorporate your brand’s message into the copy. 

All that said, I still learn new things each day while I manage this company’s social media. My main advice is to keep experimenting – try different tactics, learn from others, research. Each of these things will be helpful in learning how to effectively manage a social media platform. 

Olivia Blumb, a Green Bay, Wisconsin native, is a public relations major and corporate communications minor in Belmont University’s Class of 2022. Blumb is involved on campus in her sorority Alpha Sigma Tau and PRSSA. Blumb has been a PRSSA member since her freshman year and now serves as the Chapter President for the 2020-21 academic year. This post was originally published on her personal blog.

4 Things to Consider When Going “From Here to Anywhere”

By Lucy Walsh and Marisa Davis

While the beloved Belmont adage of “from here to anywhere” inspires adventure and curiosity of post-grad life, sometimes this message can seem easier said than done. Logistics can be tricky, sometimes the stars don’t align and adulting can be hard. However, with enough confidence and planning, Belmont PR grads can successfully make the leap from being a student of the classroom to a student of the world. To learn more about a recent alum who did just this, the PR at Belmont blog interviewed Marisa Davis, a 2020 public relations alumna who recently relocated to New York City.

What are some professional considerations to take into place when considering a cross country move? How do you think about making the jump?

I know something that people had told me was that “It’s harder to get a job somewhere else if you’re not living there, since companies don’t want to wait for you to relocate.” I’ve heard that it’s easier to at least have an address of where you’re wanting to move so you have an address for your resume. It can play a big part in  getting considered for new jobs.

Also for me, the dance industry specifically is small in a lot of cities with only one or two companies that would have a PR or communications employee. New York definitely has the most opportunity and arts organizations that would have a big enough team and budget. So, even though my post-grad internship isn’t in performing arts right now, I’m still gaining the skills to get to do that and apply them eventually to my industry, and I’m here in case anything in my area pops up. It would give me a leg up on people located in other parts of the country.

From a social standpoint both personally and professionally, what should people know about branching out to a new city where they might not know as many people?

I moved here with people from Belmont, and one of which I have been friends with since freshman year! That was a pretty easy built in friendship base. I think that I also have enough acquaintances from past experiences that I can hopefully form friendships, which is a good skill wherever you go. With a city like New York, it can be a hard city to meet people since a lot of people are doing their own thing and have a mindset of minding their own business. But, I do think that a lot of offices have a good culture of being open to having relationships and friendships forming within and anywhere they can. You just have to be open to that.

What were logistical things that people might not take into consideration until they’re in the midst of their move? How can people make something as daunting as packing up their entire life as easy as possible?

I feel like my experience was so different since it happened so quickly. I got an apartment and an internship and moved up here within two weeks, and COVID-19 precautions on top of that was interesting as well. Because I did Belmont East I had flown up here with only the essentials, and that was helpful in knowing what I absolutely needed and what could wait for now. Living pretty minimally and knowing what you want takes care of all of the big stuff. Having your own frame of reference is so helpful in any context. Even though it did happen so quickly, I knew that it was something that I wanted to happen and that I could reasonably do.

What would you say to someone who has a dream location but is afraid to take the next step? How can you take some of the anxiety out of this life change?

It was definitely scary for sure. COVID-19 made it more scary, but it was less scary for me since I had already lived in New York through Belmont East. Having friends and people behind you who support you definitely helps! There are so many Belmont connections, and I feel like alumni are all over. They can be so helpful as both friends and colleagues, but you have to do the work to reach out. I know that Belmont alumni have Facebook pages and mixers, so taking the time to go to those is definitely important as well!

Marisa Davis is a 2020 graduate of Belmont University, where she studied both public relations and dance. After completing two internships in New York City as a member of the fall 2019 Belmont East cohort, she has recently moved back to the city that never sleeps. She loves the performing arts, University of Tennessee football and chai tea.

Debate 2020: Bringing Current Events into the Classroom

By Lucy Walsh

Belmont University announced their plans to host a 2020 presidential debate in November of 2019, and students have been clambering to get involved from the get go. While hosting an event of this stature is always an honor and a marker of a successful institution, in some ways this privilege is old hat for Belmont, as they first hosted a town hall style debate in the Curb Event Center between then Sen. Barack Obama and Sen. John McCain in 2008. However, reprising this unique opportunity 12 years later continues to usher in new opportunities for current students to volunteer at the nationally broadcasted event, civically engage and and experience their own piece of history. 

 

While Debate 2020 will only physically impact Belmont’s campus during the week of October 22nd, semester-long activities allow both the student body and Nashville community the opportunity to gear up for the 2020 election cycle through Well Core programming and an altered course catalogue that includes three presidential debate related courses. Belmont’s Department of Public Relations is offering an elective course entitled “PR in Action: Debate 2020,” while the neighboring Department of Media Studies is sponsoring both a “Watergate and All the President’s Men” and “Democracy and Media” courses. As a senior public relations major with a minor in publishing, I have had the opportunity to take two out of three of this semester’s “Debate 2020” related classes, and it has completely opened my eyes to the extent communicators of all disciplines relate to both presidential debates and the presidency as a whole! 

 

“PR in Action: Debate 2020” is taught by associate professor Dr. Sharee Broussard, who formulated the course as an opportunity for undergraduate public relations students to formulate academic research papers and public relations case studies surrounding Belmont University’s involvement with the debate. Taking a unique perspective as the host university has been an unusual view, as compared to the typical scrutiny of the candidates and participating political parties. However, taking the time to view an event like this at a community and institutional level allows for a greater and more focused look at how the RPIE methodology can apply to public relations activities in all stages of debate preparation. Professionals from Belmont’s Office of Communications, Campus Sonar and FleishmanHillard’s New York and Washington D.C. offices have served as guest speakers to provide supplemental commentary on the “Debate 2020” season, which has made all the difference in helping us look at the debate from an outside perspective. 

 

Meanwhile, I’m dually enrolled in the “Watergate and All the President’s Men” elective, which I was inspired to take after seeing Bob Woodward speak at the 2019 Public Relations Society of America conference! Taught by Professor Sara Wigal, a public relations professional and Director of Publishing within the Curb College of Entertainment and Music Business, this course takes a detailed view of how the Watergate scandal role in shaping precedent of  executive privilege, investigative journalism and America’s understanding of the news media. 

Belmont’s debate theme “Ideas of America” comes to life through these unique classroom experiences and the full lineup of educational events open to students and the public. From curriculum changes to student volunteer opportunities, public relations students at Belmont truly have the opportunity of a lifetime to experience a “from here to anywhere” style event right on our own campus. For more information on the Belmont 2020 presidential debate, visit https://belmontdebate2020.com.

 

Lucy Walsh is a senior public relations and publishing student from Evansville, Indiana. Alongside her duties as the editor of the PR at Belmont blog, she is an active executive board member of Belmont PRSSA and Belmont Ambassadors. She can typically be found listening to the full discography of Taylor Swift, walking Belmont Blvd. or writing snail mail to her friends and family.

Belmont Students Win Big at Parthenon Awards

By Dr. Bonnie Riechert

Five Belmont students were among honorees at the 2020 Parthenon Awards event sponsored by the Public Relations Society of America Nashville Chapter. The event was held virtually, as a Facebook live event Aug. 31 on https://www.facebook.com/prsanashville.

A team of four students from Public Relations Campaigns service-learning class in fall 2019 received a Parthenon Award, student category. Honored for their campaign, “Unlocked: Jewelry with a Purpose,” were Ladara Lucas (Class of 2019) and seniors Madeline DiMauro, Emily Stembridge and Aliah Tayyun.

Chandi Morar received an Award of Merit for her research project, “Marketing/Communications and Emerging Technologies,” completed in Public Relations Research class.

Area professionals in public relations and communications also were honored by award presentations. PRSA is the nation’s leading professional organization serving the communications community, with more than 30,000 professional and student members. The Nashville Chapter sponsors five student chapters of Public Relations Student Society of America, including Belmont PRSSA.

Alumni Spotlight: Claire Anderson

 

Claire Anderson, 2019 graduate of Belmont University

 

Claire Anderson is from Olympia, WA. She moved to Nashville four years ago to attend Belmont University, where she majored in public relations and minored in history. In Anderson’s free time, she enjoys baking, watching old movies and going for walks around Nashville. One of her favorite places in Nashville is the Green Hills Public Library, where she searches for her next book to read!

Anderson graduated from Belmont University in 2019,  where she was a student writer and temporary communications assistant in the university’s Office of Communications. She also completed an internship at the Andrews Agency. Anderson was active in PRSSA, Kappa Alpha Theta and Bruin Recruiters. In 2019, she received the Department of Public Relations Academic Achievement Award for having the highest GPA of all the public relations majors graduating that academic year.

Anderson has recently accepted a position at DVL Seigenthaler, which is associated with Finn Partners. Anderson is their newest account coordinator, which allows her to work with clients such as Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Avalere and Waller and Seattle Cancer Care Alliance. Anderson was initially drawn to DVL Seigenthaler by witnessing several mentors that she admired who worked there.

DVL Seigenthaler is a public relations firm that serves local, national, and international customers. The firm is based in Nashville, TN and is one of the largest communications agencies in the southeast.