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.
Open to all middle and high schools within Okaloosa and Walton counties the SPRMC was founded by the members of the Northwest Florida Press Club and taken over by ECPRO over five years ago.
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 19th Annual Emerald Coast Public Relations Organization (ECPRO) Student Public Relations and Media Competition. Nearly 175 middle and high school students, advisers and parents from Okaloosa and Walton counties attended the award banquet, which was held at the Air Force Enlisted Village’s Bob Hope Village Community Center in Shalimar on April 30th.
Amanda Sullivan, 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 continued to be 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 Mrs. Marylaide G. Newell, Jeff’s mother.
Brandon White, 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.
Jordan Loar, Fort Walton Beach High School, was the outstanding yearbook editor with a $500 scholarship.
Public Relations Project Awards went to the Fort Walton Beach High School Leadership Group, which won first place for their children’s projects. The $500 prize was awarded to the group to further its projects.
Second place was awarded to Emma Killingsworth for the Senior Leadership Conference. The $300 prize went to the Leadership Group for future projects.
And third place went to Bethany Swonson, who received $200 for the Leadership Group for her Troop Packages project.
Sara Maton, of Niceville High School, was named Outstanding Print Editor with a $500 scholarship.
Caitlyn Eliason, Davidson Middle School, was named Outstanding Middle School Journalist.
Adviser of the Year was Fort Walton Beach High School’s Susan Teare.
Linda Evanchyk, Publications Advisor at Choctawhatchee High School, made a special presentation in honor of Paula Buchanan. Mrs. Buchanan was the yearbook adviser at Choctawhatchee for four years. She passed away from cancer in October 2007.
A crystal vase on a marble pedestal was presented to JP Buchanan, Paula’s husband.
While print, broadcast and public relations entries were judged on work form the current school year, yearbooks were judged on the previous year’s work because of the timeframe in which they are completed.
For other winners please see
High
School Winners
and Middle
School Winners.
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Maddalena Fricano and Cathy
Lanroche, 2007/08 co-chairs of the Student Public Relations and Media Competition.
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Photos from 2008
Awards Banquet |
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Brandon White, Baker School, was the recipient of the Mark Stone Broadcasting award, which comes with a $500 scholarship. He is shown with Competition Co-chair Cathy Landroche and ECPRO President Ken Hair.
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Caitlyn Eliason, Davidson Middle School, received the Middle School Journalist Award from ECPRO Member Kathy Morrow.
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Sara Maton, Niceville High School, was recognized as the Outstanding Print Editor, which comes with a $500 scholarship. She is shown with Competition Co-chair Cathy
Landroche.
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Linda
Evanchyk, Publications Advisor at Choctawhatchee High School, made a special presentation in honor of Paula Buchanan. Mrs. Buchanan was the yearbook adviser at Choctawhatchee for four years. She passed away from cancer in October 2007.
A crystal vase on a marble pedestal was presented to JP Buchanan, Paula’s husband.
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Aimee Shaffer, news director and public service director for
Qantum Communications was the guest speaker at the 2008 awards banquet.
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| Thank you to our
2008 sponsors –
we
couldn’t do this without you! |
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Diamond Scholar Sponsor:
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Gold Scholar Sponsors: |
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Silver Scholar Sponsors: |
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Bronze Sponsors: |
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Jean Dutton
Dan
Empson, owner of Angler’s Beachside Grill and Sportsbar
Kathy Morrow
Preston Hood Chevrolet
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