Last month, Centennial students took home one Bronze and two Gold ACE awards at the annual Canadian Public Relations Society (CPRS) Toronto ACE Awards Gala.

“I was thrilled for our students,” said Barry Waite, professor and coordinator of the CC+PR program. “To be recognized by the Toronto PR community not only recognizes their hard work, but also demonstrates to them the value of what they’re learning at Centennial.”

Known collectively as Horizons, Maria-Teresa Andreacchi, Fiona Somerville, Lindsey McCulloch, Jill Burkes, Margaret O’Donoghue and Michael Riverso won gold for their group work on a publicity event for the Horizons for Youth charity.

Team #CANit — Chrissy James, Zerina Derveni, Ayla Altila, Kathryn Debattista and Jasmina Vransevic — also took gold for its project for the Dixon Hall charity.

Samantha Kamiel, Jessica Strople, Hannah Yardley and Meg Scrimgeour claimed bronze for their group work as the Phony Party, which benefitted Kids Help Phone.

The three ACE Awards means that for the second year in a row, Centennial’s was the only public relations program recognized in the student awards.

This year’s winning events were each team’s final assignments in CC+PR program’s Event Management course.

“Our special events this year in fall 2013 and spring 2014 raised more than $25,000 for local charities in the GTA,” Waite said.

Individual accolades

At the same CPRS Toronto ACE Awards Gala, CC+PR student Amanda Patterson was named the CPRS Toronto Student of the Year. Centennial students have won the award three of the past four years.

“Amanda Patterson showed leadership and a strong dedication to the program from Day One,” Waite said. “She’s interested in mental health issues and spent time learning more about career paths in communications in that area.

“She did her internship at Baycrest and was hired full-time before it was even finished.”

Patterson wasn’t alone in being recognized as top student.

CC+PR student Megan Henry won the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) Toronto Student of the Year Award.

“Megan Henry was a stellar student who showed a lot of initiative throughout the program,” Waite said.

It’s not just students that are finding success. Three new CC+PR grads and one recent grad have been accepted into the Ontario government’s two-year internship program, Waite said.

“The recognition the industry gives to Centennial’s Corporate Communications and Public Relations program and its students highlights the quality of the program and the fact that our students are graduating ready for the workplace,” he said.

Byline: Philip Alves
Story Arts Centre school blog
Online: June 11, 2014 [storyartscentre.ca]