Meet the 2022 PRSA Phoenix Scholarship Winners
Posted on Aug. 30, 2023 / Member Highlights, PRSSA Student Scholarship / Subscribe 0
Melody Aguilera, 2022 PRSA Phoenix Scholarship Winner
Photo courtesy of Hannah Pohlmeyer at Life is Sweet Photography
Did you know that each year PRSA Phoenix presents more than $2,000 in scholarships and awards to members and chapters who exhibit outstanding merit in public relations? This allows students to fund their pursuits of higher education without the burden of financial stress. Many people internationally apply for this scholarship award but only a select few are able to receive it.
Meet Melody Aguilera, one of the 2022 PRSSA scholarship winners. Melody is originally from Somerton, Arizona, but moved to Flagstaff to pursue her dream of working in entertainment PR by studying at Northern Arizona University. Fast forward a few years later, Melody graduated Summa Cum Laude from NAU with a bachelor’s degree in strategic communication and a dual emphasis in Public Relations and Advertising in May of 2023. Post-graduation Melody decided to enroll in the Disney College Program as a way to begin her career with one of her dream companies. We were able to talk with Melody more about what made her want to pursue a career in PR, her college experience and what kind of opportunities the scholarship provided.
Q: What kind of scholarship did PRSA award you and what were you able to do with this scholarship?
I was awarded the 2022 PRSA Phoenix PRSSA Student Scholarship. This was a truly humbling experience because I personally knew a lot of the students from my institution who were applying. Naturally, I thought this was a long shot but c’est ’la’vie which translates to “that’s life”.
This scholarship allowed me to continue funding my undergraduate degree, which allowed me to graduate debt free, and with hands-on experience working with nonprofits by way of my PR capstone where I worked with Surfers Healing, a California-based organization for children with autism.
Q: What made you interested in public relations?
I was a volunteer for a local nonprofit organization called Precious Treasures in my hometown. Precious Treasures aims to instill the importance of social and academic achievement in the community’s youth, so they become contributing members of their community.
I was a participant throughout my early years and then became a volunteer for the organization throughout high school. Precious Treasures provided me with the opportunity to attend the 2019 Rotary Youth Leadership Awards Conference. There I learned the importance of being a community leader and fostering partnerships to help ensure the continued success of organizations. This sparked my interest in learning how I could pursue “establishing partnerships” and “fostering communities” into a career. PR turned out to be a really great option to do this and more.
Q: When was the first time you heard about PRSSA & what made you want to become a member?
I first heard about PRSSA in my freshman year, in my Student Communication Theory 101 assembly lecture. Two of the PRSSA officers came into the lecture hall to tell us about the intro meeting for PRSSA that would take place that same night. I dragged a friend with me and attended the meeting and became really interested in joining then, but my schedule didn’t allow me to at the time.
I began taking PRSSA more seriously in my junior year when my schedule finally allowed me to attend the meetings and campus life was a bit more normal following the COVID-19 shutdown. What drew me to PRSSA was the opportunity to expand on the practical side of the PR techniques we were learning about in class. I liked having the opportunity to work with model clients and hearing from PR professionals to expand my PR experience beyond that of the classroom.
Q: What are your post-graduation dreams? Where do you see yourself five years from now?
Now that I am working for the Walt Disney Company, I have the opportunity to really dive into entertainment PR. I’ve always been a fan of Disney so this opportunity is truly a dream come true but I intend to use this opportunity as the beginning of my career with this company. So, in five years I hope to be working in the PR teams for either the Park, Experiences, and Product or the Media and Entertainment Distribution divisions of the Walt Disney Company.
Melody’s story is a good example of the community and resources that are available within your own local PR industry. If you are an individual who is serious about getting into the industry, you don’t have to do it alone. PRSSA can help you on your PR journey and when you become a member with them, you will have opportunities to get involved in your chapter, as well as learn about internships and available scholarships. PRSA members can donate to help fund the next generation of PR professionals.
Megan Leddy, 2022 PRSA Phoenix Scholarship Winner
Megan comes from a military family and moved to Arizona as a baby. After graduating high school, she packed up her bags to enjoy the high altitude of Flagstaff and pursue a bachelor's degree in business management and a minor in public relations from Northern Arizona University. In May of 2023, Leddy graduated Summa Cum Laude.
Now, Megan is working toward a master's degree in public relations and advertising from the University of Southern California with the aspirations of becoming a professor.
She spoke with us about what led her to pursue public relations, her college experience and the opportunities the scholarship has provided her.
Q: What kind of scholarship did PRSA award you and what were you able to do with this scholarship?
I was awarded a $1,000 scholarship from the Phoenix PRSA chapter during the fall of my senior year. At the time, I was serving on NAU’s executive board as the Social Media Coordinator and Event Planner.
When I had initially learned about this scholarship, I had already made the decision for graduate school to be my next step following graduation. I applied intending to use the award to fund this next venture — and, fortunately, I was able to do just that!
Of the many master’s programs I applied for, the PRA program at USC has always been my dream. Phoenix PRSA granted me the opportunity to bring this dream to reality, while also allowing me the grace of alleviated financial stress.
Q: What made you interested in public relations?
Since I was young, I have always been fascinated with entertainment. I don’t possess the talent to be on the stage commanding audiences, but I craved to be a part of the groups of people to make that happen.
Learning about public relations in high school helped me to bridge that gap between seeing what I wanted and knowing how to get there. The agency side of public relations particularly stood out to me because of the seemingly limitless nature of who you get to work with. I’m incredibly fascinated with the art of storytelling and this field appeals to me in that regard.
Q: When was the first time you heard about PRSSA and what made you want to become a member?
I first learned about PRSSA during the spring semester of my junior year. It was the second semester back from online classes and quarantine, and I was dealing with major impostor syndrome. My impending graduation date was looming over me like a dark cloud, and I felt very lost and inadequate.
The Public Relations Student Society of America gave me the space I’d been looking for to give me meaning. Since I only had public relations as a minor, the formal education I had on the subject was limited, so PRSSA helped tremendously with connecting certain gaps and increasing my confidence.
Q: What are your post-graduation dreams? Where do you see yourself five years from now?
Even with these next steps laid out for me with graduate school, I admittedly still struggle with deciding what mark I want to make on the world. I hope beyond the opportunity of furthering my education, I also utilize this next chapter to learn more about myself and exactly which path I want to embark on next.
Five years from now, I’ll be about to turn 28 (my golden birthday) and hopefully more comfortable in my skin and competencies. I see myself working in the entertainment industry with already a few accolades my younger self would be proud of.
All PRSSA members are encouraged to get involved in their chapter by either applying for a scholarship, submitting their best work, or entering one of the many national competitions. There is also a scholarship fund where anyone can give donations to help fund the next generation of PR professionals.
Written by Samantha Cruz, PRSA-Phoenix Intern
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