June, 2007 In this issue:
I thought of all of you on June 1st when we celebrated with this year’s graduates of the Public Relations Program. It is, without a doubt, the best day of our year as we greet the next group of fledgling professionals as they cross the stage. This year we have 25 students who will be our newest alumni as they head into the workforce at the end of the summer. Please be sure to welcome them if your paths cross. Ready or not, that first few months can be daunting! Much has happened since we began the alumni program last November. Our second year students’ event brought close to 30 alumni together with faculty, current students and special guests so we could talk about all that is possible. Our first newsletter went out to nearly 250 of you before the holidays and we began our mentorship program early in 2007. We are delighted to tell you that we have 10 mentors and students working together as of the orientation in May and we’ll be evaluating our success with this carefully over the next year. Earlier this month Elizabeth, Cindy Drummond (our Work Experience Coordinator) and I attended the national CPRS conference in Edmonton where we were delighted to run into alumni we hadn’t encountered yet, and a number of potential new employers for our students on DFS. We also had dinner with a few Edmonton grads who are interested in getting a chapter organized with those of you working in the capital. In this, our third newsletter, we are happy to bring you news of alumni doing great things abroad and closer to home. You’ll see an invitation to our graduating class issues symposium where you can hear how they are perceiving the issues facing our profession. As well, you’ll find yet more opportunities to partner with us as clients for those hands-on classes you all remember so well, I am sure. Please remember that we really love to hear from you and encourage you to call Elizabeth Lennox, our PR Outreach Coordinator, at 440-5698 or e-mail her at elennox@mtroyal.ca with any and all updates on what’s happening in your life. Have a safe and restful summer! Janice “I sat at the head of the long table and took a moment to just watch the matched pairs getting to know each other. The ten alumnae chatting with ten of our senior students came from graduating classes as far back as 1992. I remember thinking that it doesn’t get much better than this!”
Janice Robertson, Chair of the Public Relations program in the Centre for Communication Studies, believes there’s no better testimonial to the success of a post-secondary program than asking alumni to volunteer their time in a mentoring/coaching relationship with students…and having them agree enthusiastically. “The alumni mentors are all leaders in their fields -from communications in the energy sector and amateur sports, to travel and hospitality and fund development in the non-profit sector. It only took minutes for the students to see what was possible for them.” On May 8th, ten senior public relations students met their mentors for the first time and embarked on a one year journey that will end with the students’ graduation in 2008. The pairs will meet or talk at least once a month – focusing on the students’ goals and challenges through discussion, job shadowing, networking with the mentor’s colleagues and advice on resumes, cover letters and interview skills, Programs will be monitored along the way for ways to improve the success of these relationships that can make such a difference. Over the next year, similar programs will be developed for Broadcasting, Journalism, Technical Communication and Electronic Publishing. As the mentors assist senior students in their final year make the transition from students to career professionals, the Centre’s alumni program will work on engaging alumni in other ways to develop a mutually beneficial relationship with the Centre for Communications Studies. For more information, contact Elizabeth Lennox, Coordinator, Public Relations Outreach, Centre for Communication Studies, 440-5698. Alumni working around the world…
I am continually amazed by the diverse locations and fields that our PR alumni find themselves in. Many alumni connect with Janice Robertson and Jim Wood with news about the exciting careers they have carved out for themselves. Here are just a few. If you have a story to tell, email me at elennox@mtroyal.ca and I will publish your story in the next newsletter. Photos are always welcome.
Join us on July 17th for the senior class symposium, a one day event in which the students present their research and analysis of the issues in public relations. Everyone is welcome, parking is free and the students would benefit greatly from your presence. A detailed program will be sent out at a later date. Click here for more information From Debra Metcalfe, graduate 2002 The time commitment is minimal and the personal and professional reward is maximum. We need just a few more interested PR grads to help us get the chapter underway. For more information please contact me at dametcalfe@shaw.ca. I encourage all PR grads to contact the
Alumni office and forward their contact information to become an
active member of the MRC
Alumni. There is no cost involved and it is an easy way to come Click
here for PR Alumni Chapter membership
form. Please complete and
fax to Shirley Reynolds, Office of Alumni Relations, at (403)440-7000 From Shirley Reynolds, Coordinator of Alumni Chapter and Events… Make connections... It’s all in who you know. Earn incredible benefits just by staying connected to Mount Royal — benefits like reduced rates on Mount Royal Recreation memberships, group rates for insurance and other programs and services. Your significant investment in your Mount
Royal education was time
well spent, now ensure your investment pays dividends.
Alumni
benefits and services are the perks that come with your
membership Visit www.mtroyal.ca/alumni Remember to let us know when you move or change jobs so we can keep in touch and let you know about all the great things that are happening in our program. This information is for Public Relations alumni. If you would like to be removed from the distribution list, just email: elennox@mtroyal.ca. |
Public Relations alumni love Mount Royal
and many have returned to work on campus in a variety of areas. External
Relations, the Foundation Office, instructors in the Public Relations
Program as well as the Alumni Relations Office are just a few examples
of departments who recognize the unique contributions of our alumni.
Lara Hamnet is one such alumni who loves her job. 
Cindy
Drummond, our new DFS Coordinator and alumna from the class of 2006,
has come on board to coordinate
workplace experiences for all of our PR students. Cindy provides
professional development sessions as well to prepare the students
for their workterms. Thanks to Cindy's diligent efforts, second-year
students are currently embarking on their first DFS.
Janice Robertson, Chair, Cindy Drummond,
DFS Coordinator and I attended the CPRS Conference in Edmonton this
month. What a great opportunity
to get together with many of our PR alumni, network with PR professionals
from across the country and attend sessions on the newest trends
in our profession. 
Jason
Krell (left), a 2007 graduate of the Bachelor of Applied Public Relations
program, received the Arete Award which
is given annually
to a student
who exhibits exceptional professionalism, leadership and commitment
to the public relations profession. Congratulations Jason! 
Janice
(second from left), Cindy (far right) and I also connected with alumnae
Heather Holmen (far left) and Renee Worrell (second from right) at
the Sherlock Holmes Pub. Heather and Renee
are happily
settled in Edmonton and are excited at the idea of starting
up a Public Relations Chapter to ensure they continue to stay connected
to Mount Royal. Stay tuned for further information on this
front. 
Given the fact that you can find Mount
Royal College Public
Relations’ graduates working throughout Calgary, throughout
Alberta, throughout Canada and throughout the world, should be
reason enough to have an active MRC Public Relations Alumni Chapter
to keep everyone connected. Over the years, MRC has graduated hundreds
of public relations' students and the time is right to create a
formal
place of our own within the college alumni. While our alma mater
is
looking for all former graduates to become active alumni, we
are
looking specifically for PR grads and alumni to help launch our
own chapter. 
Elizabeth Lennox