The Temple University chapter of the Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) has won the national PRSSA Star Chapter Award for the fourth year in a row. This year, the chapter’s eligibility for the award depended on its ability to prove that it completed eight out of 11 requirements set out by the national PRSSA organization. 

Temple PRSSA is no stranger to recognition at the regional and national levels. In 2019, the chapter celebrated its 50th anniversary and hosted the PRSSA Mid-Atlantic District Conference as one of eight chapters in the organization to host a regional conference. Now the chapter is working to ensure that it keeps diversity and inclusion at the forefront of its membership priorities, with one of its former directors of diversity and inclusion elected as the second-ever PRSSA national vice president of diversity and inclusion. 

Although the chapter was supposed to host the Mid-Atlantic District Conference again earlier this year, the event was canceled due to COVID-19 restrictions. However, the chapter did not let the ongoing pandemic stop them from holding virtual events and meetings for its more than 120 members.

With each academic term, Gregg Feistman, faculty advisor for Temple PRSSA and assistant chair of the Public Relations Department, has watched the chapter grow into its own.

"Winning this prestigious national honor for the fourth year in a row is a testament to the strong leadership that's been exhibited by the chapter over the years,” he says. “What makes our chapter so special is the members, and I encourage all Klein students, whether they're public relations majors or not, to take a look at all the chapter has to offer and consider joining.”

Alexis Levant, a senior public relations major and director of public relations for Temple PRSSA, says that because the chapter prioritizes its members, their focus is what leads to its continued success.

“I think one of the reasons Temple PRSSA is a Star [Chapter] Award chapter is because of how we make our students feel. And we’re working to improve that over time, in how we’re learning from what’s going on in the world and how we can be the leaders we see and the leaders we’re going to be some day.” 

At the national level, PRSSA requires that chapters who submit paperwork for the Star Chapter Award fulfill criteria that can include developing a community service project, having a chapter member apply to an individual PRSSA award and receiving positive media exposure. This semester, Temple PRSSA is planning to continue its excellence by moving its meetings and events to a virtual setting and connecting with students and supporters locally and worldwide.