2014 Ruth Hammond Scholarship Winner Announced

TORONTO, Nov. 19, 2014 /CNW/ - Holly Smith, Halifax, Nova Scotia, is the 2014 winner of the $1,000 Ruth Hammond Scholarship, awarded annually to a public relations student in his/her final year of the Bachelor of Public Relations program at Mount Saint Vincent University (The Mount), Halifax. She is also the recipient of the Montebello Endowed Public Relations Scholarship, and the Mount Saint Vincent University Student Leadership Scholarship. She has also participated in the Canadian Forces Public Affairs Professional Development Course.

The Ruth Hammond Scholarship was established by Hammond's friends and colleagues in the Canadian Public Relations Society (Toronto) to honour her lifetime commitment to public relations education in Canada. The Scholarship, awarded by Mount Saint Vincent University, acknowledges a student who has completed at least two public relations co-op work terms and who has demonstrated outstanding academic achievement, leadership abilities and dedication to establishing a career in the public relations field.

Smith's first public relations co-op placement in 2013 was with the Lunenburg Regional Fire and Emergency Service, where she served as a special projects co-ordinator. She was responsible for organizing a community event and acquiring sponsorships, arranged interviews and photography, and designed a website. She filmed and edited videos for educational purposes and co-ordinated media activity. 

Her second co-op placement, recently completed in April 2014, was with the Resource Recovery Fund Board (RRFB), a not-for-profit corporation working in partnership with Nova Scotians to improve the province's environment, economy and quality of life by reducing, reusing, recycling and recovering resources. There she was a Communications Assistant, who planned and executed stakeholder and consumer events along with developing web content, and an infographic, in addition to writing and editing case reports on RRFB programs.

"During her work term, Holly demonstrated great confidence, and took a keen interest in her co-workers and the work we do," said Carolyn Pierce, RRFB communications manager. "She played critical roles in the co-ordination of our business development summit; showed initiative to increase our NS Recycles Contest scholarship submissions; and worked extremely well with our partner groups in sensitive situations."

Smith has also served as Unit Public Affairs Representatives with the Canadian Forces in Halifax, where she has assisted in writing news releases and articles for internal use and for local newspapers. She has been a social media designer at The Mount, creating a Facebook page for the university's bookstore that showcased products offered. In addition, she has been a public relations volunteer member for the Cadet Biathlon Nationals, Martock, NS, and has participated in the National Effective Speaker Competition in Moncton, NB.

Recognized for its academic excellence and creative learning approaches, The Mount offers bachelor's degrees in arts and science, education and professional studies in addition to a number of graduate degrees and a variety of certificates and diplomas. The university community includes 4,000 women and men from across Canada as well as students from more than 60 countries, who study on campus or through distance learning programs.

The Ruth Hammond Scholarship funds are managed by the Communications + Public Relations Foundation. The Foundation promotes the advancement of communications and public relations as vital functions in society, is dedicated to the public interest, and is committed to increasing public knowledge and awareness of the role of communications and public relations in daily life. The Foundation accepts individual and corporate contributions towards research and educational initiatives nationwide.

For more information about the Foundation and its public relations educational initiatives, contact Barbara Sheffield, Executive Director, Communications + Public Relations Foundation, Suite 1515, 73 Widdicombe Hill Blvd., Toronto, Ontario, M9R 4B3, or phone [phone], or e-mail [email protected].

Note to media: Contact the Foundation for a photo of the winner.

SOURCE: Communications + Public Relations Foundation

Joel Levesque, APR, FCPRS, [phone], [email protected]; Barbara Sheffield, APR, FCPRS, [phone] or [phone], [email protected]