The ECPRO Student Public Relations & Media Competition (SPRMC) has awarded thousands of dollars in scholarships to local students. This nationally and regionally award-winning program recognizes excellence in the fields of print journalism, yearbook publication, broadcast and public relations.
The competition is made possible through the Emerald Coast Public Relations Foundation, Inc. a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Through the support of many local businesses, a variety of awards and scholarships are offered.
Local student journalists were awarded a total of $3,500 in scholarships in the 20th Annual Emerald Coast Public Relations Organization (ECPRO) Student Public Relations and Media Competition. More than 200 middle and high school students, advisers and parents from Okaloosa and Walton counties attended the awards
banquet.
We are very excited about the future of the Student Media Competition! A SPRMC Focus Committee was recently formed to review the strengths, weakness and opportunities of the competition.
Based on feedback from advisors and ECPRO members, the Executive Board has voted to forgo the competition for the 2009-2010 school year. The committee will take additional time to revamp the program to better meet the current needs of students, advisors, members and the community. The goal is to roll-out the competition format in the fall of 2010!
20th Annual ECPRO Student Public Relations & Media Competition
2008 - 2009 School Year
The theme for last year’s competition was “Perfecting the Media Storm”.
Megan Whitehurst, Choctawhatchee High School, was named The Jeff Newell Outstanding Reporter, winning a $1,000 scholarship. Jeff Newell was a reporter for the Northwest Florida Daily News, who in 1989 answered the call of local journalism teachers to start a scholastic journalism awards program. Newell was instrumental in the success of the program until his death from cancer in July 2001. An accomplished reporter, Newell was known for his dedication to his craft as well as his skills as a reporter. The scholarship is courtesy of Marylaide G. Newell, Jeff’s mother.
Brittany Laurel Farris, Baker School, received the Mark Stone Broadcast Award and a $500 scholarship. Mark Stone was a local journalist who graduated from Niceville High School and attended Boston University. He returned home and worked in radio until his untimely death of cancer at a young age. The Northwest Florida Press Club established this scholarship award in his name to be given each year to the one high school broadcast journalist who excelled during the student’s high school career.
Madison Lewis, Freeport High School, was the outstanding yearbook editor with a $500 scholarship.
Tia Thigpen, Choctawhatchee High School, received the Outstanding High School Print Editor Award and a $500 scholarship.
Julia “Jewel” Carroll, Seaside Neighborhood School, was named Outstanding Middle School Journalist.
Public Relations Project Awards went to the Fort Walton Beach High School Leadership Group. First place was awarded to Unjani Harris for Freshman Leadership Conference. The $500 prize was awarded to the group to further its projects.
Second place was awarded to Mackenzie Amos for the Gas Card Fundraiser The $300 prize goes to the Leadership Group for future projects.
And third place went to Nikki Pappas and Caroline Yeager, who received $200 for their Chow Down project, which the group will utilize for future endeavors.
The Adviser of the Year Award went to Sandy Graff, South Walton High School. The award comes with $500. The award was renamed the Linda Evanchyk Adviser of the Year Award in honor of Ms. Evanchyk, a Choctawhatchee High School journalism advisor, who was one of the founders of the competition and who has been heavily involved with the competition for the past 20 years. Evanchyk is also the 2009 Florida Journalism Teacher of the Year.
Steve Baker of SB Video Productions presented a special Best in Show Award to Charlie Bruce and Justin Miranda of Fort Walton Beach High School for their innovative “Don’t Smoke” public service announcement.
For other 2009 winners please see High School Winners and
Middle School Winners.
|
|
Photos from
2009
Awards Banquet |
 |
Megan Whitehurst, Choctawhatchee High School, was named The Jeff Newell Outstanding Reporter, winning a $1,000 scholarship.
The scholarship is courtesy of Marylaide G. Newell, Jeff’s mother (right). Jeff’s brother, Mark, is on the left.
|
 |
Madison Lewis, Freeport High School, was the outstanding yearbook editor with a $500 scholarship.
|
 |
Tia Thigpen, Choctawhatchee High School, received the Outstanding High School Print Editor Award and a $500 scholarship.
|
 |
Steve Baker of SB Video Productions (right) presented a special Best in Show Award to Charlie Bruce and Justin Miranda of Fort Walton Beach High School for their innovative “Don’t Smoke” public service announcement. Shown receiving the award is Justin Miranda.
|
 |
(l-r) Choctawhatchee HS Adviser Linda Evanchyk presented the Linda Evanchyk Adviser of the Year Award to Sandy Graff, So. Walton HS Newspaper Adviser at the Student Public Relations and Media Competition banquet.
The award comes with $500.
|
 |
Air Force Village resident, Betty Stevens, was the guest speaker at the Student Public Relations and Media Competition banquet.
|
 |
| ECPRO member Paula Kelley (left), the mistress of ceremonies at the Awards Banquet, is shown congratulating Caroline Yeager, representing the Ft. Walton Beach High School Leadership Group for a 3rd place win in the Public Relations Project Competition.
|
|
