For a second straight year, students from Slippery Rock University who are preparing for careers in public relations were recognized by a Pittsburgh area professional association as the highest achieving students in the region.
The Public Relations Student Society of America’s SRU chapter, known as Rock PRSSA, was named the Public Relations Society of America Pittsburgh’s 2026 PRSSA Chapter of the Year at the PRSA Pittsburgh Renaissance Awards on Jan. 29 in Pittsburgh.
The rare back-to-back distinction for the chapter reflects its consistent performance and the applied, professional focus of SRU strategic communication and media program.
Rock PRSSA also received a student campaign award of merit for “Are You a Giver or a Receiver?,” a student-developed campaign created in partnership with Gatesman and the Center for Organ Recovery and Education. Grounded in original research and executed under real client expectations, the campaign demonstrated how students in the strategic communication and media program apply theory and strategy to real-world communication challenges.
Although the honor reflects calendar-year activity, Rock PRSSA’s executive board operates on an academic-year cycle. The chapter was led during the 2025 Spring and 2025 Fall semesters by the following students:
- Meaghan Frank, ’25.
- Hannah Gentilo, a senior strategic communication and media major from Latrobe (Greater Latrobe HS).
- Guy Glowitz, a senior strategic communication and media major from Quarryville (Solanco HS).
- Leah Hawthorne, ’25.
- Celina Inan, a senior strategic communication and media major from Fairview (Fairview HS).
- Natalie Kimmel, a senior strategic communication and media major from Hooversville (Conemaugh Township HS).
- Emma Leichty, a senior strategic communication and media major from Eighty Four (Canon-McMillan HS).
- Paige McCullough, a senior strategic communication and media major from Erie (McDowell HS).
- Paige Rhine, ’25.
- Reese Skiba, a junior strategic communication and media major from Apollo (Freeport HS).
- Alaina Titchen, a junior strategic communication and media major from Evans City (Mars HS).
The chapter is advised by Allison Peiritsch, associate professor of communication, media and sport management.
Among the evening’s individual honors, Jensen Troy, ’23, former Rock PRSSA public relations chair and current account executive at Mindful Kreative, received PRSA Pittsburgh’s Rising Star award, which recognizes an outstanding early career professional with five or fewer years of experience. Her recognition underscores the program’s strength in preparing graduates for early leadership and professional impact.
Additionally, Alyssa Mascolo, ’24, former Rock PRSSA vice president, current PRSA Pittsburgh social media chair and account executive at Havas Red, received PRSA Pittsburgh’s Member of the Year award. Her recognition, alongside the chapter’s honors, reflects the University’s record of preparing graduates for leadership roles in the profession.
More information about PRSA Pittsburgh and the Renaissance Awards are available on the PRSA Pittsburgh website. More information Rock PRSSA is available on CORE, SRU’s online platform for student organizations. More information about strategic communication and media SRU is available on the program’s webpage.
