Articles

Shadow Day Gives Students Firsthand Experience with Professional World of PR

Communication and PR students from universities in the DFW area had the opportunity to shadow Greater Fort Worth Chapter of PRSA members at their places of work to gain firsthand experience in the world of professional communications. This was part of the chapter’s Shadow Day which took place Thursday, May 29, 2025.

After a morning of shadowing, the Key School and Training Center hosted the students and professionals for lunch and a panel discussion featuring a trio communication pros: Andra Bennett, APR, Kim Brown, APR, and Reggie Johnson, APR, on the topic of public relations career insights. 

The event was organized by New Professionals/Student Liaison Chair, Detavious Hill. “I had the opportunity to work with some amazing students and colleagues to bring this day to life,” he said.

Six students shadowed professionals at five organizations that spanned the nonprofit, education, healthcare and agency sectors, including:

• Christ Haven
• Cook Children’s
• Key School and Training Center
• Story and Strategy PR
• UNT Health Science Center

The students shadowed their hosts in meetings, content creation, strategy planning, and more. The participants all wanted to know when the chapter was going to do this again!

“I’m incredibly grateful to GFW PRSA for hosting this event and to all the professionals who took the time to mentor and inspire students like me,” said Erika Power, a UTA graduate student and Communication Director for her school’s PRSSA Chapter. 

“It’s extremely important to connect with students as they gear up for graduation and beyond,” said Hill. “Similar to my experience, many students feel a great deal of imposter syndrome and unpreparedness, so hopefully with programs like this, together we can shape the future of our professions.”

During the panel, Bennett shared fascinating stories from the front lines of PR. “We’re storytellers, and with 35 years in this biz, I have more than a few to share,” she said. They involved themes such as not chasing the next shiny object and the importance of detailed communication with your team when planning an event.

Greater Fort Worth Chapter President Reggie Johnson said “I find it rewarding that by reflecting on what I’ve learned and how I’ve grown through my own career, I can help support and empower students and young professionals at the same time.” He added, “For us seasoned professionals this takes us full circle… Each of us depended on the support of others to get our own careers established.” 

He urged students to respond to both successes and failures by always asking, “What can I learn from this?”

“I know it’s scary venturing into something new, but if you’re lucky, you’ll do it over and over again,” said Brown. “We build resilience by putting ourselves out there. Like I tell myself every day… just keep swimming.”

Johnson says that the chapter prioritizes its communications and PR students because, “they are the future of our profession — and we believe in them to make that future a bright one!”

A big thank you to Detavious for organizing this event, to Key School and Training Center for hosting our lunch program and panel discussion, and to each organization that hosted a student! 

And of course, thank you to our students for your enthusiasm for learning and growing in your own careers!

Greater Fort Worth PRSA Chapter Attendees Create 200 Blessing Bags During Monthly Luncheon

By Tamara Michalenko Terry, APR

The Greater Fort Worth Public Relations Society of America chapter (Greater Fort Worth PRSA) had a twist to their monthly luncheon meeting held May 7, 2025, at Tarleton State Fort Worth in Crowley, Texas. Texas Adventist Community Services (Texas ACS), a non-profit organization based in Keene, Texas, brought supplies for attendees to create 200 Blessings Bags full of hygiene-related supplies and towels. Texas ACS assists community service events and serves in times of disaster. They work with volunteers year-round to create these bags that are distributed to people experiencing homelessness.

“Our members love finding ways to give back to the community,” Reggie Johnson, Greater Fort Worth PRSA president and director of communications, Division of Student Affairs, for the University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth, shared. “They always jump at the opportunity to get involved in service! We are so grateful to Bo and Deborah Gendke and Texas ACS for facilitating this activity that really adds a dose of perspective to one’s sense of purpose. It tied nicely with the featured presentation.”

Alana Hefner, a professional coach and vice president of career services within the Texas State Technical College – System, spoke about purpose. She designed her presentation to be “an intentional blend of silence, discovery, reflection and discussion” as she had attendees reflect on different questions individually, in pairs and in groups. The questions were designed to assist in clarifying one’s purpose. “Passion plus talent equals purpose,” she shared adding that “Purpose blooms when talent and passion are used in service to others.”

“I was excited to learn the makeup of this group with having such a natural connection to purpose made this flow especially well,” Hefner added.

“What a great way to kick off and finish a PRSA meeting—with service to others,” Sarah Maben, APR, assistant professor for the Strategic Communication department at Bob Schieffer College of Communication at Texas Christian University in Fort Worth, stated. “I even made a few new connections through our assembly line fun of making care kits for those in need. Hefner gave us the wonderful gift of a guided reflection. I say a gift because we don’t always carve out that time. As strategic communicators, we’re always providing this type of guided counsel for our organizations.”

“What an inspiring presentation,” said Matt Brockman, communications director for the Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo. “Giving consideration in a quiet way to my passions and talents provides a renewed perspective on what’s important in life and how I can better fulfill my purpose.” Reflecting on the Blessing Bags assembly, Brockman shared, “A feeling of joy filled my heart with each bag I stuffed knowing it would make a difference in the life of someone that is struggling. Great meeting from beginning to end.”

“It was a pleasure to bring the supplies for the communicators to complete the Blessing Bags,” Bo Gendke, Texas ACS Director, shared. “There has been a lot of demand lately, so the Blessing Bags have been going out as fast as volunteers can make them. It is fun to see people of all ages fill the bags as we take the supplies to schools and organizations.”

“It was a simple project, but an important one,” Kyler Hardegree, communications assistant for the Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo, shared. “I was happy to help, and it felt good knowing these hygiene packets could make a real difference for someone in need. The presentation reminded me that sometimes, all it takes is a new perspective to find purpose in where you are and where you’re headed.”

Adding to the fun of the meeting, Katherine Curtis and Maria Gregorio from Girl Scouts of Texas Oklahoma Plains, Inc. brought Girl Scouts cookie boxes, including crowd-favorite Thin Mints, to share with attendees.

It feels like we are keeping the community service focus going as the next Greater Fort Worth PRSA chapter luncheon meeting happens to be scheduled for Wednesday, June 4, 2025, at Meals on Wheels. “Guests are welcome,” Johnson added. “We have a great group of professionals to connect with, and we would like to have you join us.”

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Tamara Michalenko Terry, APR, is the community service chair for the Greater Fort Worth PRSA and director for events and editorial services for the Texas Conference of Seventh-day Adventists based in Alvarado, Texas.