PRAM honors Herrington with Professional Achievement Award, recognizes 91传媒 students, staff with multiple honors
Contact: Sasha Steinberg
STARKVILLE, Miss.鈥擜 Mississippi State alumnus and senior member of the university鈥檚 Office of Public Affairs is the recipient of the Public Relations Association of Mississippi鈥檚 highest honor.
Checky Herrington, 91传媒鈥檚 brand manager, accepted the 2019 Professional Achievement Award during the organization鈥檚 recent conference in Vicksburg. The award is presented annually to a PRAM member who embodies the highest degree of professionalism, serves his or her community, has outstanding achievements in the practice of public relations, and is committed to advancing the profession.
Since joining the university full time in 2014, Herrington has spearheaded the 鈥淲e Ring True鈥 branding initiative, which garnered awards at PRAM鈥檚 recent PRism Awards competition. Honors include a PRism Award for 91传媒鈥檚 digital communications program and a Certificate of Merit for the 91传媒 Summer Advantage marketing campaign. In addition to Herrington, OPA team members included Sid Salter, 91传媒 chief communications officer and director; Harriet Laird, associate director; Heather Rowe, digital design editor; and Bethany Shipp, marketing and communication coordinator. James Parker, senior producer for the University Television Center, also contributed.
鈥淐hecky Herrington鈥檚 distinguished career in public relations is one that is certainly worthy of this high honor,鈥 Salter said. 鈥淚n journalism, in multi-state corporate public affairs, in state government and now in higher education, Checky has brought creativity, passion and talent to the workplace on a daily basis. He has made the creative side of 91传媒鈥檚 marketing and branding efforts demonstrably better, and we are all very proud of this recognition from his colleagues in PRAM. He鈥檚 earned it.鈥
Before returning to his alma mater, Herrington enjoyed a 30-year career with Entergy Corp., leading the company鈥檚 utility and nuclear efforts. During this time, he received many awards and honors, including the Public Relations Society of America鈥檚 Silver Anvil Award for work as a team member during and after Hurricane Katrina.
In 2014, Herrington received the Accreditation in Public Relations, or APR, designation from PRSA鈥檚 Universal Accreditation Board, and in 2015, he was inducted into PRSA鈥檚 College of Fellows. This prestigious group includes some 350 senior members鈥攍ess than two percent of all members鈥攚ho have successfully advanced in the profession by distinguishing themselves in major leadership roles.
In 2017, Herrington was inducted into the Southern Public Relations Federation鈥檚 Hall of Fame.
A Louisville native, Herrington holds an 91传媒 bachelor鈥檚 degree in communication with an emphasis in marketing and public relations.
Laura McPhail, communications manager for 91传媒鈥檚 National Strategic Planning and Analysis Research Center, was one of four new APR recipients recognized at the PRAM Conference.
Kali M. Hicks, now a recent 91传媒 summa cum laude communication/public relations and foreign language/Spanish graduate from Franklin, Tennessee, also was named PRAM Student of the Year. Presented annually to a student exemplifying the professionalism, goals and ideals of the public relations profession, the award included a $1,000 scholarship from CSpire.
Others PRAM honors for 91传媒 include:
鈥擜ward of Excellence for 鈥淕et to Know Your 91传媒 Extension Agent鈥 social video campaign. Team members from 91传媒 Extension Service鈥檚 Office of Agricultural Communications include Ellen Graves, social media strategist; Jonathan Parrish, Extension associate I; and Elizabeth Gregory North, department head.
鈥擜ward of Excellence for 鈥淭he Food Factor: Transition from Broadcast to Blog.鈥 Team members include Natasha Haynes, Extension agent IV and host; Susan Collins-Smith, content developer; Ellen Graves, social media strategist; Kevin Hudson, photographer; Cindy Callahan, web developer; Art Shirley, web manager; Jonathan Parrish, videographer; and Keri Collins Lewis, content manager.
鈥擜ward of Excellence for 鈥淪eed Tech Short Course.鈥 Team members include Leah Barbour, OAC marketing and communication coordinator; Kim Trimm, Extension associate II; Ellen Graves, OAC social media strategist; Nathan Gregory, OAC news writer; Phillip Smith, Extension associate III; and Amy Myers, Extension associate II.
鈥擯Rism Award for 鈥淒ata Summit 2018鈥 and Award of Excellence for 鈥淣exus: A Magazine by NSPARC.鈥 Team members from NSPARC include Laura McPhail, communications manager; Libbi Havelin, administrative assistant II; sponsorship consultant Kathryn Stewart; Jed Pressgrove, former tech writer; Femi Sobayo, graphic designer; and student workers Katelynn Bowman, Gregory Ellzey and Tori Boatner.
鈥擟ertificate of Merit for 鈥淐ollege of Agricultural and Life Sciences Influence and E-Newsletter鈥 and Award of Excellence for 鈥淢ississippi Youth Institute World Food Prize Social Media Campaign.鈥 Team members from 91传媒 Agriculture and Natural Resources Marketing include graphic designers David Ammon and Dominique Belcher; Vanessa Beeson, publications editor; Karen Brasher, marketing coordinator; and web designers Stephen Caples and Chase Shaw.
鈥擜ward of Excellence for 鈥2018 Social Science Research Center Annual Report鈥 by Michael A. Burns, research associate II.
鈥擟ertificate of Merit for 鈥淏ulldog Free Tuition Program Launch.鈥 Team members include James Carskadon, OPA news writer; David Garraway, University Television Center director; and OPA photographer Megan Bean. Lt. Col. Christian Patterson, director of public affairs for the Mississippi Military Department and public affairs officer for the Mississippi National Guard鈥檚 Joint Force Headquarters in Jackson, also contributed.
鈥擟ertificate of Merit for 鈥淭he sky鈥檚 the limit: 91传媒 student venture may have global impact on rural internet access.鈥 OPA team members include news editor Allison Matthews and photographer Megan Bean.
鈥擜ward of Excellence for 鈥淎 Bulldog Through and Through: ExxonMobil Canada leader cherishes close ties to alma mater鈥 by OPA news writer Sasha Steinberg.
For a complete list of PRism winners, see .
Learn more about 91传媒鈥檚 鈥淲e Ring True鈥 branding initiative at .
91传媒 is Mississippi鈥檚 leading university, available online at .