PRSSA UH Mānoa

?? Thank you to iQ360 Vice President Lynn Miyahira for speaking to us last Wednesday about Crisis Communications! We reviewed two case studies and learned tips on how to manage PR crises and how to expand our crisis comms knowledge as students. Mahalo to our last guest speaker of the semester! ??

?? In Mid-November, our PRSSA chapter participated in our community service week ever! First, we partnered with Mālama Initiative to make care packages for unhoused individuals that had snacks, fresh produce and hygiene essentials. ??Then, we partnered with the Genki Ala Wai project to make 204 Genki Balls and throw 600 Genki Balls into the Ala Wai Canal to help restore its ecosystem. Genki Hou! ?? Lastly, we capped off the week with Mālama Initiative by handing out care packages, dog food, pizza and water to unhoused individuals around town. Mahalo Graciella Butler for organizing such a special week and to our members who helped to uplift our community!

?? This week, our PRSSA members participated in a Soft Skills Workshop with UHM’s Professor Lynn Yamashita and Dr. Michael Cheang. We learned about the importance of soft skills in the workplace (being on-time, problem-solving, work ethic, etc.) in addition to technical skills. ?? Afterwards, PRSSA member Pierson Mclean and PRSSA Director of Special Events Graciella Butler volunteered to take professional headshots of our members. Mahalo to you both!

We are grateful to have had Sarah Murdock, Senior PR Account Executive at MVNP, as our guest speaker for PRSSA! Sarah gave us a behind-the-scenes look at the impactful work she does for her clients, along with her day-to-day responsibilities. She also shared about her career journey and examples of successful social media posts she created. Thank you, Sarah, for sharing your experience and advice with us! ?? #PRSSA #PRSSAUHM #MVNP #UHManoa #PublicRelations

Last week, five of our UH Mānoa PRSSA members had the incredible opportunity to attend the 2024 Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) International Conference (ICON) in Anaheim, California—our first time back in over five years! This experience was full of keynotes, presentation sessions, and networking moments that expanded our knowledge and inspired our passion for public relations. Our chapter president, Crystal Castille, and vice president, McKenzie Kurosu, were honored to receive 2024 ICON Travel Grants from the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) Foundation, making their participation even more meaningful. A standout highlight of the conference was a tour of Taco Bell headquarters, where we got an inside look at how a global brand handles communications, marketing, and innovation. It was an exciting chance to see real-world PR in action at such a fun and iconic company! Throughout the conference, our members connected with PR professionals from across the world, gaining valuable insights into industry trends, best practices, and strategies for building successful careers. The sessions reinforced the importance of relationships, effective messaging, and staying adaptable in an ever-changing media landscape. Mahalo to everyone Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) who made this event possible. Special thank you to Jennifer A. Armstrong, APR from PRSA Hawaii for your warm aloha at the Western District Pau Hana Mixer. We return to Hawai?i energized and ready to apply what we’ve learned to our chapter and the wider community. #PRSSAICON2024

Mahalo to Courtney Liu, Content and Marketing Manager at Mana Up, for being our guest speaker this week! ?? Liu discussed her wide range experience and how Mana Up supports local businesses to grow globally. We got some insight on her experience holding pop-ups on the mainland, and helping her clients participate in a Good Morning America segment! She gave advice about helping yourself on how to juggle a work-life balance and navigating in-house vs. agency PR work. Thank you so much sharing your wisdom! ?? #PRSSA #PRSSAUHM #ManaUp #UHManoa #PublicRelations

Mahalo nui to Alex Da Silva, Director of External Communications at Hawaiian Airlines, for being PRSSA UH Mānoa’s first guest speaker of the 2024-2025 school year! ?? Alex shared his inspiring journey from journalism to PR, offering insights on his career transition and how he continues to represent the Hawaiian Airlines brand through their recent merger with Alaska Airlines. His key takeaway: take risks and embrace discomfort to grow in your career. He also reminded us that clear and effective communication is about ensuring the message is simple and easy for everyone to understand. Thank you, Alex! ?? #PRSSA #PRSSAUHM #HawaiianAirlines #UHManoa #PublicRelations

Introducing PRSSA’s Executive Board for the Fall 2024 Semester! ?? We are excited about the many opportunities that will help our members grow and thrive professionally and personally. ?? President: Crystal Castille Vice President: McKenzie Kurosu Director of Professional Development: Tia Flores Director of Communication: Mailani Magbanua Director of Digital Communications and Special Events: Graciella Butler Learn more about our Executive Board on our website! ?? https://lnkd.in/gJKnbrX3

Mahalo nui for coming out to orientation! It was great to see new and familiar faces! ?? We cannot wait to spend this semester with you! #prssauhm #gobows

Register for ICON 2024 by September 6 to take advantage of the Saver Rate! Link in bio ?? #prssaicon2024 #conference