Alexis Murphy of Clifton Park Earns Prestigious National Award

POUGHKEEPSIE, NY (09/02/2011)(readMedia)-- Clifton Park native and Marist College senior Alexis Murphy recently earned the annual Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) Gold Key Award, a nationwide honor given to only a handful of students across the United States.

The National Gold Key recognizes exceptional public relations students who excel in their studies, have pursued professional internships and are leaders in their PRSSA chapter.

"This award means so much to me," Murphy said. "I am honored that my work for PRSSA is being recognized and I am thankful to all my communications professors for their constant advice and guidance, without which I would not have been able to achieve this award."

Among the qualifications for this recognition, candidates must be a PRSSA member for at least two years, be a senior or graduating student, have a GPA of 3.4 or higher in their major, have held a PRSSA leadership position at the chapter or national level and have completed at least one public relations internship. 

Only 20 of more than 10,000 PRSSA members are presented the Gold Key Award each year. 

Murphy has managed an online forum for PRSSA that was featured on its national Web site.   She is also a contributing writer to USA Today College. In August, Murphy wrote an article for the paper on the Marist PRSSA chapter's community service work and detailed how student organizations can be socially responsible and fulfill their educational and service missions.