Valenti Community Scores Multiple Wins at Excalibur Awards

PR Professional of the Year, a silver Excalibur Award in the tactical podcast category, and six student scholarship awards were among the accolades

The 34th annual PRSA Houston Excalibur Awards ceremony occurred at the Royal Sonesta Houston.

HOUSTON (June 28, 2019) — Valenti School of Communication students, faculty and staff won a host of awards and recognitions at PRSA Houston’s Excalibur Awards Thursday evening. The night’s spoils included a complete sweep of the student scholarship awards category, the first-ever award for the Press Play podcast, and esteemed professor Priscilla Tinsley being named PR Professional of the Year. 

“We always work to support our students, faculty and staff,” says Julie Fix, director of undergraduate studies and an active PRSA member. “Last night reaffirmed that our hard work does not go unnoticed, and it’s ultimately paying off.”

The Excalibur Awards took place at the Royal Sonesta Houston Galleria. The event was dedicated to celebrating giant leaps in public relations by outstanding public relations professionals, programs and tactics. Additionally, PRSA Houston invested in the future of public relations by awarding $13,000 in scholarships to deserving undergraduate and graduate students. All six of the scholarship recipients are public relations majors at the Valenti School of Communication. 

The scholarship recipients are as follows:
  • Vivianh Huynh, Public Relations, B.A.
  • Phillip Duong, Public Relations, B.A.
  • Aery Dion, Public Relations, B.A.
  • Kaitlyn Niver, Public Relations, B.A.
  • Catherine Pierce, Public Relations, B.A.
  • LaRahia Smith, Public Relations, M.A.
Valenti faculty and staff also secured awards at the ceremony. Priscilla Tinsley was designated PR Professional of the Year, one of the top honors of the night. An assistant instructional professor at Valenti, Professor Tinsley was recognized for 25 years in the industry and her work training the next generation of public relations professionals. 

Press Play – the Valenti School of Communication’s first podcast, which was launched last year – won a Silver Excalibur Award in the tactical podcasts category.

More information about the annual Excalibur Awards ceremony and PRSA Houston can be found at www.prsahouston.org.