BYU-Idaho students get honorable mention at national public relations competition 

Two teams of Brigham Young University-Idaho students received honorable mentions at the 2007 Bateman Competition held by the Public Relations Students Society of America (PRSSA) April 14 and 15.

Three teams of BYU-Idaho students entered the competition, which required them to plan complete public relations campaigns for Family Caregiving 101. The organization was established by the National Family Caregivers Association and the National Alliance for Caregiving to help people who care for elderly or disabled family members.

Students put together public relations campaigns to promote the Family Caregiving 101 Web site. The competition, sponsored by Eisai Inc., consisted of 64 entries from around the country. Judges selected three finalists and gave 14 honorable mentions, including the two garnered by BYU-Idaho students.

"It's a nice tribute to the students and their work," said Mike Cannon, a public relations instructor at BYU-Idaho. "It's a real confidence booster for students here. They know they can go out and compete with students from anywhere."

The competition does more than benefit the students. It also helps the university to improve the public relations program. Cannon said getting honorable mentions puts the students among the top 20 percent of public relations students in the nation.

"It helps establish our program and students as part of the top public relations students in the country. The top programs tend to enter this competition," Cannon said.

And BYU-Idaho has managed to cement itself among those top programs, receiving honorable mentions three out of the four years the university has competed.

Cannon teaches the public relations class at BYU-Idaho and requires his students to compete in the Bateman Competition every winter semester. Students gain real world experience through working with real accounts and clients.

"They get the experience of completing an entire campaign book. It's a wonderful resume and portfolio piece for them," Cannon said.

The students also have the satisfaction of gaining real results from their work. The Family Caregiving account allowed them to inform people about available aid and programs. One team also partnered with Madison Memorial Hospital in Rexburg and the Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center in Idaho Falls to spread information.

"The hospitals donated a thousand dollars for materials to be distributed to people in the community. They did some real good for people," said Cannon.

More information on the Bateman Competition and the results for the 2007 competition can be found here.