Newsletter
May 2025 SCPRSA Newsletter 
Mercury Awards
SCPRSA's Mercury Awards, presented by dominion energy, Honor Top 2024 Projects and outstanding professionals
Mercury Awards event speakers were, from left, David Ginn, Charleston Regional Development Alliance; Ashlei Elise, International African American Museum; Megan vanVollenhoven, University of South Carolina; Dr. Jason Peterson, Charleston Southern University; and Dr. Heather Farley, Medical University of South Carolina.
SCPRSA's annual Mercury Awards, presented by Dominion Energy, brought together top public relations professionals, as well as panelists and speakers from business, education, health care and tourism sectors. More than 50 people attended the April 25 event held at the Medical University of South Carolina's campus in Charleston.
Trophies were presented to Mercury Award and Silver Wing Award winners in various public relations categories. The Best-in-Show Mercury Award went to Flock and Rally, an integrated marketing and communications firm based in Columbia. The Flock and Rally team won in the Campaigns: Event and Observances – Less Than Seven Days category for "National Medal of Honor Center for Leadership, Leadership and Valor Event." Anna Kate Twitty, left, accepted the top award from SCPRSA President-elect Meredith Houck.
The Best-in-Show Silver Wing Award went to Richland Library for its Tactics: Media Relations entry, for "Richland Library Career Online High School CBS Evening News Feature."
Five individual awards were presented:
+ SCPRSA Volunteer Service Award: Drake DelosSantos, first row left, Vice President of Finance, SCPRSA, and Public Relations Manager, Midlands Technical College
+ Executive Excellence Award: Kelly Barbrey, first row center, Vice President of Marketing and Communications, Experience Columbia SC
+ Educator of the Year Award: Allison Cantrell Lane, first row right, Senior Instructor, Fine Arts and Communications, University of South Carolina Upstate
+ Public Relations Student of the Year Award: Megan vanVollenhoven, second row left, University of South Carolina
+ W. Thomas Duke Distinguished Public Relations Practitioner of the Year Award: Anna Kate Twitty, second row right, Director of Channel Strategy, Flock and Rally
The Mercury Awards judging chair was Charlene D. Slaughter, APR,
WANT A DUPLICATE TROPHY? ORDER BY FRIDAY, JUNE 6
Additional trophies may be ordered through the SCPRSA. Forms must be submitted by June 6. Event materials, including photos of award recipients, the event program and slides, plus the order form are available on the SCPRSA website.
Survey Responses Needed
Help us plan the 2026 Mercury Awards! Complete our survey
We're always interested in ways to improve our annual Mercury Awards competition, as well as the awards event. Whether or not you entered the awards program or attended the event, we'd like to hear from you! Please complete our brief, 10-question survey, by clicking this link:
SCPRSA 2025 Mercury Awards Feedback Survey (click here to access)
Thank you for supporting the South Carolina Chapter, and we thank you for providing feedback. Your input is valuable in helping us to improve future events and to better meet the needs of our members.
PRSSA News
USC public relations student elected PRSSA international president
By Kelly Grady, freshman journalism student
University of South Carolina student Alicia Caracciolo was elected international president of the Public Relations Student Society of America at the organization’s leadership assembly in March. Caracciolo is a third-year public relations and Honors College student at USC. She will assume the role of PRSSA international president in June and serve for one year.
Caracciolo got involved with USC’s chapter of PRSSA her freshman year with the help and encouragement of two older students.
"I joined the Garnet Media Group marketing team during my first week on campus, where I met Gracie Bryant, who is now an alumna," Caracciolo said. "She took me to PRSSA and introduced me to her roommate, who was the chapter president at the time. The two of them really took me under their wing, and for whatever reason saw something in me. They made me feel like I should keep coming back, and I did thanks to their encouragement."
Joining PRSSA her first year helped Caracciolo develop a network in her field early on, she said. "Going to these meetings introduced me to not only upperclassmen in the public relations department, but also to the different career paths in PR," Caracciolo said. "We bring in guest speakers for most of our meetings and spend time on Q&A. For me, being able to just start as a freshman — start to ask questions, network, learn — was a huge benefit."
Fourth-year USC public relations student Megan vanVollenhoven, a member of USC’s PRSSA chapter and PRSSA national vice president of career services, worked with Caracciolo within USC’s PRSSA chapter and on the international board.
"I've known Alicia since she was a freshman, and she was one of the few freshmen that showed up regularly to meetings while I was on exec. So, I got to know her there and then throughout the years we've worked together," vanVollenhoven said. "I know that Alicia's a very organized, hard-working and driven individual, and she always accomplishes whatever she puts her mind to.
I'm excited to see everything that she'll do as the international president of PRSSA."
Read more about Alicia Caracciolo's new role.
Membership
SCPRSA welcomes 13 new members!
We're pleased to announce 13 new chapter members. Please welcome these communication professionals:
+ Kayla Farr, Analog Devices, Mt. Pleasant
+ Joe Nava, Acting Deputy Director of Internal Communications, Peace Corps, Beaufort
Several new members joined from the Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston:
+ Faith Arenth, Media Relations Manager
+ Kaleen Becker, Internal Communications Coordinator
+ LeJane Carson, Senior Director, Enterprise Communications
+ Kristen Drew, Media Relations Manager
+ Kelsey Fitch, Director of Marketing
+ Kate Lincoln, Director of Business Operations
+ Josh Marthers, Sr. Manager, Enterprise Communications
+ Kristen Merkel, Media Relations Manager
+ John Russell, Marketing Manager/Media Relations
+ Tiana Scarlett, Marketing and Communications Specialist
+ Celia Spell, Senior Manager of Content Strategy
Our chapter has 154 members.
TAKE ADVANTAGE OF PRSA SPRING MEMBERSHIP PROMOS
"SPRING FORWARD" MEMBERSHIP PROMO
Through May 26, PRSA's
"Spring Forward" membership promo offers new members, who join PRSA at the full membership rate of $267, a 25 percent discount for the on-demand certificate program of their choice!
This is a great incentive for public relations and communications professionals to enhance skills by joining PRSA. Spread the word!
PRSSA GRADUATES: GET A FREE CHAPTER MEMBERSHIP WHEN YOU JOIN PRSA!
Congratulations PRSSA graduates! SCPRSA wants to give you a FREE Chapter membership when you join PRSA as an associate member at the already discounted rate of $67. Don’t miss this fantastic opportunity to begin growing your PR career with the best networking and mentoring available! Send an email to SCPRSA Board Member Drake DelosSantos before joining PRSA as an associate member.
May Recognition
May is Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month
May is Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month! Check PRSA's recognition webpage for a variety of resources to share.
Upcoming Webinars
PRSA has several webinars scheduled in May and early June. Many webinars are available to members for free. Sign up for these topics in advance (all times EDT):
May 19, Noon to 1 p.m.
Leveraging Your Networks to Advance in Academia
May 21, 3 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Storytelling Intensive, Part 2: Story Slam: 60 Minutes to Sharper Storytelling
May 21, 3 p.m. to 4 p.m.
How to Use AI to Track What Matters with the PESO Model© for Communication Measurement
May 28, 2 p.m. to 3 p.m.
When Disaster Strikes: Crisis Communication Planning and Execution in Uncertain Times
June 4, 3 p.m. to 4 p.m.
