Ron Culp Scholarship for Mentorship

Deadline: June 14, 2013

Award: $1,000

This unique $1,000 scholarship is designed to honor a student entering his or her senior year at a four year accredited institution for their mentoring of others and their promotion of public relations as a career choice. This scholarship will be awarded to a student who is nominated by the college or professional advisor of a Chapter of the Public Relations Student Society of America, or by one of his or her peers who can address the ways the nominee has helped others in their career and professional development, and how that individual has demonstrated their potential to be a strong mentor of others in their professional life. This award is not based on academic standing or courses taken.

Ron Culp is a consultant and professional director of the graduate program in public relations and advertising at DePaul University. During his 30-year corporate career, Culp held senior public realtions positions at Ketchum, Eli Lilly, Pitney Bowes, Sara Lee and Sears, where he was senior vice president of public relations and government affairs. Culp's blog – www.culpwrit.com – provides career advice for individuals pursuing careers in public relations. He has made a grant to the PRSA Foundation to make this award available to a PRSSA student.

This scholarship is made possible by the PRSA Foundation.

The Nominee

Must be entering his or her senior year in college in Fall 2013
Must be a major in public relations, journalism, or related fields
Must be studying to prepare for a career in public relations
Must be attending a four year accredited institution
Must be in good standing as a member of a PRSSA Chapter

Nomination Process

Nomination must be made by someone other than the nominee who has first hand knowledge of the student’s mentoring capabilities and examples, in a letter of no more than two pages.
Up to two additional letters of support for the nominee may be provided.
Once identified, the nominator may involve the nominee to providing information needed to complete the nomination.
A nomination form (Word or PDF) must be completed by the nominator.
A resume for the nominee must be attached.
Five sets of the completed nomination package must be provided.
All material must arrive no later than close of business on June 14.
All nominating material must be mailed to:

PRSSA
Ronald Culp Scholarship for Mentoring
33 Maiden Lane, 11th Floor
New York, NY 10038

Judging Criteria

Demonstrated mentorship and leadership
Commitment to public relations and the profession
Letters of nomination

PRSA Foundation Announces Culp Scholarship Recognizing Student Mentors

New York—(Jan. 18, 2011) College students who mentor others are eligible for a new scholarship established by veteran corporate and agency public relations executive Ron Culp and administered by the PRSA Foundation.

Impressed by the caliber of up-and-coming PR talent he met while attending the PRSSA annual conference in Washington, DC last fall, Culp says he decided to establish the scholarship fund. He discussed the idea with former PRSSA president Kevin Saghy, who suggested focusing the award on student mentors since no such recognition program existed and it fit with Culp's personal commitment to mentoring.

The annual $1,000 scholarship will recognize a college student entering his or her senior year for their mentoring of others. Scholarship candidates will be nominated by college or professional advisers of a Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA), or by one of his or her peers.

"Helping others doesn't have to wait until you're well established in your career," Culp said. "Over the years, I have benefited from peer-to-peer mentoring and believe this unselfish quality of leadership deserves encouragement and recognition at the collegiate level."

“We are fortunate to have industry leaders like Ron Culp who recognize the importance of investing in the future of our profession by designating gifts to student leaders through the PRSA Foundation,” said Debbie Mason, APR, Fellow PRSA, president of the PRSA Foundation. “Ron joins a growing number of senior leaders who are making long-term commitments to the Foundation, and in doing so are continuing to leave a legacy.”

Culp is a partner at global PR firm Ketchum, and he heads the agency's Corporate Practice in North America. During his 30-year corporate career, Culp held senior PR positions at Eli Lilly, Pitney Bowes, Sara Lee and Sears, where he was senior vice president of public relations and government affairs. Culp's blog – www.culpwrit.com – provides career advice for individuals pursuing careers in public relations.