Student society is only chapter to earn Star Chapter Award each year since inception, PR faculty receives recognition for exceptional research
Students and faculty in Belmont’s public relations department took home several awards and recognitions at the 2025 International Conference of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) and Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) in Washington, D.C., Oct. 27-30.
PRSA is the leading professional organization serving the public relations and communications community and sponsors the student organization, PRSSA. Each year, the conference awards students, faculty and universities from across the globe with awards that demonstrate excellence in leadership.
Student Awards
National Presidential Citation
The PRSSA National Presidential Citation was awarded to Abby Encalade, Belmont’s PRSSA chapter president, for her extraordinary contributions to PRSSA and her Belmont community.
National Gold Key Award
The National Gold Key Award was given to four recent Belmont graduates: Reese Brosnan, Ryleigh Green, Anna Love and Kate Terborg. This award symbolizes professional promise and university leadership.
Star Chapter Award
Belmont’s PRSSA chapter as a whole earned the Star Chapter Award, recognizing excellence in criteria including ethics, advocacy, community service and professional development.
"PRSSA is an incredible pre-professional organization, and our Belmont Chapter has benefitted from outstanding student leaders," said Dr. Bonnie Riechert, Belmont PRSSA co-faculty adviser. "These national-level Chapter and individual awards are a testament to their vision and success."
Belmont’s PRSSA chapter is the only university to have earned the Star Chapter Award every year since the award was established.
“Receiving these awards is meaningful for both the legacy of our PRSSA chapter and the continued growth of Belmonts public relations department," said Encalade. “PR faculty advisors like Dr. K and Dr. Bonnie, along with our professional advisor, Keith Miles, consistently go beyond what’s required in their roles."
Faculty Award
Educators Academy Award
A new award was presented to a faculty member for exceptional research that refines and expands the practices related to public relations pedagogy. The award this year went to one of Belmont’s own distinguished faculty members: Dr. Christie Kleinmann.
Kleinmann accepted the PRSA Educators Academy Award for “Innovation in Experiential Public Relations Education” based on her experiential special topics course, titled Creating for a Cause. The course is built around utilizing strategic communication to help nonprofits with storytelling techniques.
"I'm deeply honored to receive this inaugural award from the PRSA Educators Academy. This recognition reflects the innovative and outward-focused culture that defines Belmont and our department,” said Kleinmann. “The Creating for a Cause course exemplifies our commitment to experiential learning that connects students with real community needs while developing their professional skills."Kleinmann, along with faculty member Trenay Perry Bynum, attended the conference withstudent leaders Adriana Alonso, Lex Chidester, Abby Johnson, Jed Mangrum, Colin Nugent and Angelina Sinacola.
Belmont’s public relations department is committed to bridging education and professional practice. These awards and recognitions reflect the high caliber of this program which has empowered students to become strategic, adaptable communicators through a robust curriculum designed to help them thrive in any environment.
Learn More
Learn more about Public Relations at Belmont