Shelia Hardwell Byrd, media relations specialist in Jackson State University’s University Communications, has won an Award of Excellence PRism from the Public Relations Association of Mississippi.
Byrd received the highest award in the category for a feature story she wrote about Timothy Kendrick, a 2013 JSU graduate who overcame cancer.
Byrd also received an Award of Merit for a feature story she wrote about a JSU alumnus who cared for victims of the Boston Marathon bombing.
Both stories were picked up by the media, including The Clarion-Ledger, USA Today and a host of Gannett papers.
The awards were presented April 17. PRAM began the PRism Awards program to honor and recognize outstanding work in the field of public relations by professionals and students within the state of Mississippi.
PRAM is a network of 11 chapters throughout the state consisting of nearly 600 members. The association includes memberships for students majoring in public relations and professionals who hold positions in a variety of fields including corporations, industries, government entities, not-for-profits and agencies. PRAM members are concurrent members of the Southern Public Relations Federation, a network of more than 1,300 professionals in Alabama, Florida, Louisiana and Mississippi.