The Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) chapter at Ohio State earned the Dr. F.H. Teahan Outstanding Chapter Award at the 2026 PRSSA International Conference (ICON) in Orlando, Florida, in October. This award recognizes only the top PRSSA chapter of more than 300 chapters internationally. 

The award recognizes chapter excellence in alumni and professional relationships, active membership, leadership at the international level, professional development opportunities and student-run firm work through both established programs and development of new ideas. 

“It meant the world to me to receive the Outstanding Chapter Award because we worked so hard to achieve it,” said Mackenzie Smith, 2025-26 Ohio State PRSSA president and current PRSSA international vice president of member services. “Receiving the award was a reflection of the hard work and dedication our entire executive board and chapter put into making PRSSA a great experience for our members.”

During the 2025-26 academic year, Ohio State PRSSA hosted 24 industry-professional speakers, paired 44 students with professional mentors, completed PR and communications work for 12 paying clients through the affiliated student-run firm The Practice and nearly 220 students attended a PRSSA meeting or event during the 25-26 academic year. Then-president Smith was also elected to the PRSSA International Committee for 2026-27, the first Ohio State student to do so in over 10 years.

Ohio State PRSSA also received its fifteenth consecutive Star Chapter Award at the Orlando conference, commending the chapter’s efforts to execute a variety of initiatives, including high school outreach, ethics education and attendance at international conferences.

“The commitment and effort I see from Ohio State PRSSA leaders to create an experience for students that truly prepares them for their careers and builds meaningful relationships with both peers and professionals is next level,” said Mary Sterenberg, associate professor of practice and faculty advisor for the chapter. “This award is a deeply meaningful recognition of that work.”

Ten student PRSSA members and the chapter’s three faculty and professional advisors attended the ICON conference in Orlando, participating in four days of keynote sessions, professional development workshops and networking events. Speakers included New York Times best-selling author Sally Hogshead, M. Booth Vice President Eric Winkfield and Allison Worldwide Co-Founder Scott Pansky.

“One of my biggest takeaways from ICON is how important it is to build relationships and stay open to new ideas throughout your career. Hearing from professionals and students with different backgrounds and experiences reminded me that there is no single or straight path into public relations,” said Caitlin Davis, Ohio State PRSSA vice president of programming. “I left this conference feeling inspired to continue learning, to step outside my comfort zone more and take advantage of opportunities to grow both personally and professionally.”

Additionally, current Chapter President Paige Galperin spoke on a panel about building strong relationships with local Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) chapters.

Students returned to Columbus with a deeper understanding of the international PRSSA network and new ideas for implementing professional development benefits for Ohio State chapter members. To learn more about PRSSA, visit the chapter website.

Written by student Paige Galperin