Hailey Laycraft Wins Inaugural Calgary Legacy Scholarship

CALGARY, May 8, 2012 /CNW/ - Hailey Laycraft, Mount Royal University, is the first winner of the Calgary Legacy Scholarship awarded by the Canadian Public Relations Society (CPRS) Calgary in partnership with the Communications + Public Relations Foundation.  This $1,000 scholarship will be awarded annually to a second year student studying public relations/communications in a recognized program in one of Mount Royal University, University of Calgary or SAIT.

The winner must demonstrate an overall understanding of public relations and communications, its theoretical and practical elements, including values and principles through submission of a two page essay on a specified topic. The 2012 topic focused on the on-going evolution of computer-based technologies and why the fundamentals of good public relations practice are still important in this social media age.

"Education, training and career development are cornerstones of our organization. This scholarship is another way that CPRS can support future public relations practitioners as they prepare to enter the profession," said Janice Robertson, President of CPRS Calgary.

Laycraft focused on the CPRS code of ethics in her submission, noting that people need to consider the outcomes and consequences of how they communicate because what is said on social media is in the public sphere forever. 

In addition to her course work, Laycraft is committed to community where she has taken on a number of projects in Calgary—she is a social media co-ordinator and web site developer for Keith Chevrolet Buick GMC, a student leader and volunteer at Silvera for Seniors where she has been involved in rebranding the organization and produced a promotional video, and is a volunteer with Be More Fitness Inc. where she assisted the founder in rebranding her company. She will be participating in an internship with Nexen this summer that will take her closer to her career goal of working in the oil and gas industry.

"Hailey is passionate about a career in public relations and she brings that passion to her studies at Mount Royal on a daily basis," says Jeremy Berry, associate professor of public relations at Mount Royal University. "She is a great ambassador for CPRS Calgary and a worthy recipient of this award."

In addition to the scholarship, the winner receives a complimentary membership in CPRS (Calgary) and a complimentary registration for a CPRS (Calgary) event.

The Canadian Public Relations Society is a national public relations Membership organization with 16 member societies in major cities or organized province-wide. It establishes and encourages high levels of professional standards, ethics and studies in public relations.

The Calgary Legacy Scholarship funds and competition are managed by the Communications + Public Relations Foundation on behalf of CPRS (Calgary). 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, at [email protected]. 

Barbara Sheffield, APR, FCPRS
Communications + Public Relations Foundation
[phone]
[email protected]

or

Tammy Schwass
CPRS (Calgary)
[phone]
[email protected]