Congratulations to Graduating SJSU Public Relations Students!

PRSA Silicon Valley congratulates the 36 students who earned their Baccalaureate of Science Degrees in Public Relations this spring from San Jose State University. Three of those graduates are in PRSA-SV’s mentorship program: Carolyn Joyce Galvante (mentored by Cisco PR Director David McCulloch), Megan Wymer (mentored by c3PR Principal Mar Junge) and Sera Maria Michael (mentored by Contos Dunne President and CEO Paula Dunne). In addition to receiving her B.S. degree, Ms. Michael was inducted into the Kappa Tau Alpha national college honor society in recognition of her academic excellence. Only students who rank in the top 10 percent of their classes nationwide are considered for membership.

The May 23, 2012 Spring Convocation Ceremony for the School of Journalism and Mass Communications (JMC) was organized by SJSU PRSSA Chapter Members Eric Armendariz (mentored by Edelman VP Travis Murdock), Alicia Moore (mentored by PRx President and COO Elisabeth Handler), Robb Silverstein (mentored by San Francisco 49ers Director of Corporate Communications Steve Weakland), Megan Brooks and Wendy Suzuki.

Keynote Speaker and Cisco Systems Senior Brand Strategist Mike Sanchez, a 1975 JMC alumnus, encouraged the graduates to excel. “Unless you’re a cattle rancher, there’s no such thing as branding. You have to earn it,” he said. Sanchez also emphasized the importance of good storytelling. He said, “Stories are escape hatches. So don’t create crap. Don’t waste time on a shallow story.”

Dr. Charles Bullock, dean of the College of Applied Sciences and Arts, concluded the ceremony by encouraging graduates to, “Believe you will succeed. Knock on many doors and tell everybody that Dwight Bentel sent you.”

Dwight E. Bentel is considered the father of SJSU’s Journalism and Mass Communications Program, now one of the sixth largest in the country. He also founded The Spartan Daily student newspaper in 1934 and was one of the first journalism instructors to make internships mandatory for graduation. Bentel died last week in Saratoga after suffering a stroke. He was 103.