Scripps PRSSA travels to the Big Apple to connect with alumni

The Hugh M. Culbertson Scripps PRSSA (Public Relations Student Society of America) Chapter at Ohio University (Scripps PRSSA) is busy planning a trip to Chicago for next school year after having the opportunity to connect with fellow bobcats in the Big Apple earlier this month.

Eleven students went on the trip to New York City and visited with Scripps College of Communication alumni at DNA Communications, NBA Headquarters, Current Global and Google, as well as others.

“We got to speak with a lot of the top leaders in all of the different companies,” said Scripps PRSSA President Isabel Mattern. “At Current Global, they talked about a gift card campaign they did in promotion of Valentine’s Day and how it worked. Google was insane. It was huge with multiple cafés. And at the NBA, we got to see awards and historic basketball memorabilia.”

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The mission of Scripps PRSSA is to offer members beneficial relationships with public relations practitioners and peers that facilitate the learning, acquiring and development of professional skills. The trip to New York did just that.

“Bobcats help Bobcats,” said Mattern. “We were able to meet with a diverse group of folks with all kinds of different professional experience. Being out there and talking to others is an important part of the college experience. Students could see the potential of what’s out there for their career.”

“Three freshmen went on this trip,” said Visiting Professor of Strategic Communication Dan Farkas. “For them to get that kind of access and see what the potential of this career path is, that helps them to understand the major and what the professional journey could look like.”

The Scripps College hosted an evening alumni event during the trip at the Malt House in the Financial District. About 40 alumni attended.

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“I think it went really well,” said Scripps Director of Student Development Erin Roberts. “A group of pretty recent alumni attended, and it was a good mix of different majors and career paths.”

Mattern and Anna Hinkle made a presentation at the event about what’s happening with Scripps PRSSA, and Scripps College Dean Scott Titsworth talked about plans to start a study away internship for students in NYC.

“We are working on a New York study away program in the college with the goal to start it by the spring 2026,” said Roberts. “It would start as a week-long program, with the goal of building it into a semester-long program.”