Kristina Hendrix (right), president of the Southern Public Relations Federation, presents UM lecturer Robin Street with a framed certificate and medallion. Street received the group’s Professional Achievement Award, its highest honor for lifetime achievement. Photo by Leo Ridge, Big Top Photo Booth
OXFORD, Miss. – A faculty member from the University of Mississippi’s Meek School of Journalism and New Media has been presented the highest award for lifetime achievement given by the Southern Public Relations Federation.
Also, graduates of the Meek School working in the University Communications office won Best in Show, the top award in the competition for public relations projects, along with multiple other awards.
Robin Street, lecturer in the Meek School of Journalism and New Media, was honored with the Professional Achievement Award. The recipient is chosen from among professionals representing SPRF-member states. Each nominee had previously received his or her state association’s Professional Award. Street represented the Public Relations Association of Mississippi.
In 2009, Street was named Educator of the Year by both PRAM and SPRF. Although it is rare for an educator to receive the professional award, the judges, who remain anonymous, commented, “Ms. Street’s achievements are stellar. She is innovative in her field. She is continually engaged in professional development. Her awards and accomplishments are well above what would be outstanding.”
Toni Richardson, SPRF vice president for professional development, oversaw the competition.
“As I read through each of the nominee biographies, I was impressed with each of them,” Richardson said. “However, my thoughts kept coming back to Robin and what an incredible teacher, educator, mentor, friend and inspiration she is. Our judges scored Robin a perfect 100 percent.”
Street is a “charismatic and determined public relations practitioner who truly embodies the qualities for which this awards stands,” SPRF President Kristina Hendrix said.
Will Norton Jr., professor and dean of the Meek School of Journalism and New Media, has watched Street’s career evolve.
“For decades, Robin Street has been demonstrating the best practices of public relations and teaching those practices in the classroom,” Norton said. “It is only appropriate that her uncommon excellence should be recognized in this way. Clearly, students in the Meek School have long recognized the quality of Ms. Street’s professionalism.”
Hendrix presented the award to Street Sept. 16 at the association’s annual conference in New Orleans. Also presented at the banquet were Lantern Awards for public relations projects in multiple categories. Awards are given at three levels. A Lantern is the highest award, followed by an Award of Excellence, then a Certificate of Merit.
The University Communications office, led by Meek School graduate Danny Blanton, director of public relations, won Best in Show chosen from all categories, and a Lantern in their category for a communications program on parking changes at Ole Miss. Graduates Lindsey Abernathy, former communications specialist; Ryan Whittington, assistant director of public relations for social media strategy; and William Hamilton, public relations assistant, were key in creating that program.
Abernathy also won a Certificate of Merit for the Inside Ole Miss newsletter. Communication specialists Edwin Smith and Michael Newsom won a Certificate of Merit and an Award of Excellence, respectively, for news releases.
Street won a Lantern in her category of communication programs, as well as an Award of Excellence for writing and a Certificate of Merit for PR tactics.
For more information on the Meek School of Journalism and New Media, visit http://meek.olemiss.edu or email MeekSchool@olemiss.edu.