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Southern Miss Student Earns Statewide Public Relations Scholarship

Tue, 08/10/2021 - 08:53am

Audrey WilliamsonAudrey Williamson, a senior public relations and advertising major at The University of Southern Mississippi (USM) has been awarded the 2021 College Public Relations Association of Mississippi Scholarship award. This scholarship aims to encourage the growth of interest of the communications field. Williamson has been in the communications field since her freshman year at Copiah Lincoln Community College. Since transferring to USM, the scholarship will give her the opportunity to further her career in her field.

The College Public Relations Association of Mississippi is a consortium of public relations professionals employed at Mississippi’s public and private colleges and universities, as well as affiliated education agencies. Each year, CPRAM awards $1,250 to select high school, select community college, and undergraduate students attending a four-year institution. These students went through a lengthy application process, including a 500-word essay and three letters of recommendation.

“I want to thank everyone who has supported me throughout my many years of schooling,” Williamson said. “The University of Southern Mississippi and the Office of University Communications have brought me many opportunities to succeed, and I am grateful for this experience. I’d also like to thank CPRAM organization and Board for presenting this award to help me get through this last year of the long undergraduate process.”

Williamson is a new addition to the Eagle family. She is a transfer student from Copiah-Lincoln Community College and a Brookhaven High School graduate from Brookhaven, Mississippi. As a senior in USM’s School of Communication she brings great excitement and experience to campus. At Co-Lin she was very involved with campus/student life. She was a part of the Blue Wave Show Band, student recruitment, a Phi Theta Kappa officer, and a student worker in the public relations department. Williamson is currently an intern with The University of Southern Mississippi’s Office of University Communications.

“Audrey shows great potential as a future public relations and advertising professional,” said Jim Coll, Director of University Communications and Chief Communication Officer at The University of Southern Mississippi. “I am proud of her accomplishment, and I am confident she will represent CPRAM well as a recipient of this scholarship.”

In addition to Williamson, winners of the CPRAM Scholarship for the 2021-22 academic year also include Olivia Reeves of the University of Mississippi, and Laura Duncan of Mississippi State University.