OXFORD, Miss. – For the second consecutive year, the Public
Relations Association of Mississippi has awarded its $1,000
scholarship to a University of Mississippi student.
Lori Simpson, a senior journalism major from the Desoto
County community of Ingrams Mill, was chosen for the award
over four other students who were nominated from around the
state.
One student from each university or college in the state
offering a public relations course can be nominated for the
award. Selection is based on letters of recommendation from
faculty members, academic excellence, involvement in campus
activities, community service and “articulation of future
goals,” said Leia Hill, member at large on the state PRAM
board. Robin Street, UM instructor in journalism and public
relations and co-founder of the Oxford PRAM chapter,
nominated Simpson for the scholarship.
“I nominated Lori because she is an outstanding public
relations student,” Street said. “Her work for class was
always superior. I knew Lori could easily win it. I am so
proud of her because I knew how good she was, but now every
PR person in the state will also know.”
Simpson plans to accept the scholarship at the state PRAM
conference, scheduled April 17-18 in Hattiesburg. T
he award also includes a recognition plaque, as well as a
complimentary registration fee, lodging and lunch for two
during the conference.
“I’m really excited,” Simpson said. “I can always use
scholarship money and it is definitely an amazing
opportunity. It was good news.”
Simpson is a student representative for the local PRAM
chapter. She is interning this semester in the UM Office of
Media and Public Relations and for Mississippi Blood
Services. Last summer, she interned at LiveNation in Kansas
City, Kansas, doing sponsorship and marketing work. As part
of Simpson’s senior thesis for the Sally McDonnell
Barksdale Honors College, she is planning a benefit concert
for Mississippi Blood Services.
PRAM established its scholarship in 2007 “to help support
PR students for their educations,” Hill said. The first
scholarship was awarded to former UM journalism student
Genie Alice Via, who now works in public relations for the
North Mississippi Medical Center in Tupelo, according to
Street.
“Lori and Genie Alice are both shining examples of the
highest quality students our journalism and PR classes
produce,” Street said. “The profession of PR requires
multiple skills, but the most important one is writing and
both these students are excellent writers.”
Simpson said she realized she wanted to pursue a career in
public relations last semester after hearing a guest
speaker in her advanced PR class.
“I always really enjoyed it (PR) and felt like it was what
I was going to do, but that was like my light bulb moment,”
she said.
For more information on journalism programs at UM, go to