Congratulations to DePaul University PR grad students who won the prestigious Jack Koten Page Principles Case Study Grand Prize Award during last Thursday’s Arthur W. Page Society Spring Seminar in New York. Students Lizmarie Orengo, Chelsea Michael and Megan Cauley and faculty advisor Matt Ragas wowed PR leaders with their recap of the winning analysis of Starbucks’ Race Together Initiative.
“These students were absolutely amazing,” said Tina McCorkindale, CEO of the Institute for Public Relations, co-sponsor of the annual competition. “Not to mention that DePaul University has won two years in a row thanks to their adviser Matt Ragas and Ron Culp’s leadership.” Noting that a record number of case studies were submited this year from business and communication schools around the world, Tina added, “With more than 100 entries, these students should be extremely proud.”
Another DePaul PR team — Patricia Barrett, Stephanie Ericson and Erika Hanes — scored a third place win in the communication school category with an insightful case study on the listeria crisis at Blue Bell Cremeries. First place in this category went to American University students Rachel Pipan and Kelly Sheehan and their faculty advisor, B.J. Talley. Second place winner was Stacey M. Hajdak from Syracuse University S.I. Newhouse School. Her faculty advisor was Dr. Laurence Mussio.
In the business school category, first prize went to Christopher Cellante and Tim Kelly from the University of Notre Dame. Faculty advisor was Dr. James O’Rourke. Three other students of Dr. O’Rourke won second place honors in the b-school category–Meredith Alexander, Ashley Chase, and Kelly Chase.