02/15/16 sry
HAYS, Kan. -- More than 15 students at Fort Hays State University are eager to start "advancing the profession and the future professional" of public relations after receiving approval from the national board for a local Public Relations Student Society of America chapter.

"Now that the national committee in New York City has approved our application, we plan to host information sessions and collect membership dues," said Sophia Young, senior communication studies major and co-founder of the FHSU PRSSA chapter.

Two information sessions open to faculty, staff and students of all majors are scheduled, one from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 22, in the Memorial Union's Pioneer Room and another from 3 to 4 p.m. Monday, Feb. 22, in the union's Prairie Room.

Students who want to join will need to bring $50 cash along with their mailing address information.

After collecting membership dues, the next step for this emerging chapter is to elect officers and apply as a recognized student organization on campus.

"The students in the Department of Communication Studies have won numerous statewide and national awards for their public relations campaigns, advertising materials and professional writings in the past," said Dr. Hsin-Yen Yang (pronounced sheen-yen-yahng), assistant professor of communication studies and faculty advisor of the FHSU PRSSA chapter.

"A local chapter of PRSSA signifies that FHSU is truly a destination of excellence," she said. "Our students and faculty are ready to learn, perform and compete at the national and international level."

PRSSA has more than 300 chapters and 11,000 student members. PRSSA's parent organization, the Public Relations Society of America, is the world's largest organization of PR professionals, which provides professional development, networking opportunities and news to students.

Visit http://prssa.prsa.org/ to find out more about PRSSA.