Public Relations Awards

   Several faculty and alumni of the Communication Department have received Excalibur awards from the Buffalo/Niagara chapter of the Public Relations Society of America.
   Department chair Ron Smith APR received one of four individual awards, the Board of Directors' Distinguished Service Award. During his 20 years in Buffalo, Ron has served as chapter president and chair of the six-state Northeastern District of PRSA. For most of that time, he coached chapter members preparing for the national APR accreditation exam.
   Professor Deborah Silverman APR received two Excaliburs: a gold award for her published article "A Community Comes Together: The Crash of Continental Flight 3407" and a silver award for a crisis communication case study presentation on the same topic.
   Part-time public relations instructor Jeff Paterson APR and his assistant, department graduate Kate LaBrake, shared seven awards for various programs and projects with the Health Association of Niagara County, Inc. 
   Two alumnae, Courtney Quattrini (Travers Collins) and Paula Witherell (Hilbert College), each received four Excalibur awards. One graduate, Kevin Manne (Catholic Charities) received two awards. Several alumni received single Excaliburs, including Mary Cornwell (Gateway-Longview), Barbara Byers APR (University at Buffalo), Olivia Belter (Univera Health) and Debra Park (Canisius College).