Monday

TMU 5(20) -- September 16, 2008

PRSSA Chapter First In Nation
NODAC Campaign Claims Highest Honors

UNO’s chapter of the Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) tied for first place in the 2008 National Organ Donor Competition (NODAC) sponsored by Rowan University.



From left:
Kristen Martin, Kate Sypal, Keegan Niederdeppe, Meagan Phenix, Bre Gehrken and Mikaela Knipe.


The campaign, “Spring into Organ Donation,” featured two main events, a donor card check-in and sign-up on the Student Center Plaza and a speaker, Reg Green, an internationally known advocate for organ donation. Senior Keegan Niederdeppe coordinated the winning campaign. She is vice president of recruitment for the chapter and co-director of Maverick Solutions, our student-run PR firm.

Keegan will be honored at the National PRSSA Conference awards dinner, Oct. 27, in Detroit. She is also coordinating UNO’s chapter development session, “Pitching Like Pros: How to Score Clients for your PR Firm.”

“Another part of this good news is the cash award of $400 for the chapter to assist us in our efforts to send 10 students to the national conference, adviser Karen Weber said.

The April NODAC event attracted campus, community and media attention. The UNO chapters of PRSSA and Students for Organ Donation signed up about 100 people as potential organ donors. A key goal for the event was to remind each donor to inform family members of his or her decision to be an organ donor.

Organizers passed out goodie bags and informational material on organ and tissue donation. The group Indecision provided musical entertainment.

Meanwhile, the first meeting of Maverick Solutions and UNO's PRSSA chapter was held Sunday night on campus.


Constitution Week
Speech Communication Class Project Promotes Freedoms

School of Communication argumentation and debate students Monday advocated for constitutional freedom as part of the Civic Participation Project’s (CPP) Constitution Week activities.


CPP seeks to engage the university community to better understand and participate in activities designed to increase civic engagement.

The argumentation and debate readings and reflections were about The True Patriot, a look at the meaning of patriotism.
Abbie Syrek organized student participation for the second year in a row.


Of Note
Excellence in Action

Marshall Prisbell has been recognized for his exceptional interpersonal communication instruction by the new Thompson Learning Community. In the latest newsletter, a Thompson Scholar said Prisbell’s class was his favorite: “Professor Prisbell makes class fun by setting it up so that everyone actively participates,” Joe Novotny said.

* * * *

The Nebraska Certified Public Manager (CPM) program is now officially, formally and fully accredited. The National CPM Consortium voted Sept. 7, to provide UNO’s Nebraska program with initial accreditation. The accreditation team was very complimentary about the program, our faculty, our participants and our commitment to professionalism in the public and nonprofit sectors. Karen Dwyer, Dave Ogden and Jeremy Lipschultz teach a communication module in the course. As part of the Consortium’s regular process, the Nebraska program will be reviewed in five years for reaccreditation.


Did You Know?
People in the News

The Omaha News covered the Obama Omaha office opening last week, Mike Hilt reported. UNO current and past students were seen at the event. Tyler Kersting was in attendance for KMTV and Justin Riviera was working for KETV. Crew from Hilt’s Broadcast Journalism course were required to file stories by Monday. Students are preparing for an election night special in November.

* * * *

Mike Whye supplied some of the photos in the Voices Against Violence campaign. PRSSA students promoted the event with a post card mailing.


Footnotes
Evidence of Excellence

1. Bruce Johansen published “What’s HOT in Global Warming?” in the September Nebraska Report (p. 7).


La Notte Italiana
PRSSA Fundraiser TIckets on Sale

Tickets are now on sale for Italian Night PRSSA benefit dinner.

La Notte Italiana, the annual benefit dinner sponsored by the UNO chapter of PRSSA, will be held Sunday, Oct. 5, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. in the Swanson Hall of Durham Museum.

The dinner features authentic Italian cuisine from more than 20 local restaurants. This year the event will include live music and a silent auction. All proceeds help the chapter pay for student travel, competitions, service projects and special events – including the School of Communication Graduation Breakfast.

Tickets cost $25 for adults; $15 for students; and $5 for children under 12. They can be purchased through Karen Weber, PRSSA faculty adviser, in ASH 140-E, a PRSSA member or at the door. For more information, contact Weber at 554-2246 or kweber@unomaha.edu


The Week In Photos
Images from Around the School


Constitution Week 2008!


Students discuss the meaning of patriotism.


Graduate faculty held their first meeting of the year earlier this month.


Dates & Times

Mark Calendars for Interesting Events

September
26 – DebateWatch: Presidential candidates, MBSC ballroom, 7:30-9:30 p.m.

30 - Tuesday, Sept. 30: PRSSA Ethics Advocacy Panel MBSC Ballroom 1 p.m. to 2:15 p.m.

October
2 – DebateWatch: V.P. candidates, Thompson Alumni Center, 7:30-9:30 p.m.

4 & 5 – UNO Forensics @ Hastings College.

5 - Sunday, Oct. 5: La Notte Italiana (Italian Night fund raiser dinner), Swanson Hall, Durham Museum, 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.

7 – DebateWatch: Presidential candidates, Thompson Alumni Center, 7:30-9:30 p.m.

8 – Convocation at SPAC, 10 a.m.
CPACS Dedication, 11 a.m.
Centennial Reception, 12 p.m.

9 - HPER Groundbreaking, 10 a.m.

10 - CPACS Open House, 3 p.m.
Centennial BBQ, 6 p.m.

11 - Centennial Homecoming Open House Tailgate at 10:30 a.m.
Homecoming Football, 1 p.m.

15 – DebateWatch: Presidential candidates, Thompson Alumni Center

17 - School of Communication students will be partnered on Friday, October 17 with students from Tulane, Florida State, Iowa, Missouri and St. Louis University for a day with Omaha investor and billionaire Warren Buffett.

20 – Northwestern University Professor Loren Ghiglione luncheon, Omaha Press Club, 11:30 a.m..

22 - Illinois-Chicago Professor Steven Jones meets with students online in Second Life.

24 - Friday, Oct. 24 to Tuesday, Oct. 28 National PRSSA Conference in Detroit.

30 - Thursday, Oct. 30 Halloween Bake Sale first floor ASH 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

November
4 The Omaha News election special, TKN Cox 17/Qwest 74, 7 p.m.

15 & 16
– UNO Forensics @ Doane College.

20 - Thursday, Nov. 20 Thanksgiving Bake Sale first floor ASH 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

December
5 – Nebraska Lt. Governor Rick Sheehy will officiate at the CPM graduation on Dec. 5 at the new CPACS building on campus at UNO, 4 -6 p.m.

2009
January
15 - High School Journalism Dinner, 6-9 p.m. at the MBSC Chancellor’s Room.

February
12 - Thursday, Feb. 12 Valentine's Day Bake Sale first floor ASH 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

26 - Thursday, Feb. 26, MBSC Nebraska Room Bateman team campaign event for National Banking Association College Program 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

March
12 - Thursday, March 12, MBSC Nebraska Room One-Five-0 and in Control Alcohol Awareness event 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

31 - Thursday, March 31, MBSC Dodge Room Communication Career Development Workshop 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

April
23 - High School Journalism Workshop, 12 p.m. at the MBSC Ballroom.
28 - PRSSA Presentations, 4 p.m. at the MBSC Chancellor’s Room.
30 - 10 a.m. Scholarship Breakfast at the MBSC Chancellor’s Room; 5th Annual Alumni Panel at 1 p.m. at the MBSC Dodge Rooms); 54th Annual Awards Banquet, 6 p.m. at the Thompson Alumni Center.

May
8 - Friday, May 8, at the MBSC Ballroom School of Communication Graduation Breakfast 8 a.m. to 10 a.m.

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