Meet the Recipients of PRSA Puget Sound’s 2026 Annual Scholarships
Each year, PRSA Puget Sound invests in the future of the public relations profession by awarding two $4,500 scholarships to exceptional Washington college students studying public relations, communications, and related fields: the Sally Heet Memorial Scholarship and the Horace and Susie Revels Cayton Scholarship.
Our chapter received an impressive pool of applications from across the state in 2026. Following a thoughtful review process, the Scholarship Committee selected Jazell Jenkins and Anayi Vaca Gutierrez as this year’s recipients. Read on to learn more about these emerging PR professionals.
Jazell Jenkins, Sally Heet Memorial Scholarship Award Winner
For Jazell Jenkins, communication is where culture, creativity, and community intersect. A senior at the University of Washington studying Communication and American Indian Studies, she has developed experience across agency, nonprofit, corporate, and fashion communications while exploring how storytelling shapes public understanding and representation. As an Unangax̂ (Aleut) woman and first-generation college student, Jazell is passionate about expanding Indigenous representation through strategic communication, and her Communication Honors research examines Indigenous fashion and visual sovereignty in contemporary media. She hopes to build a career in fashion and lifestyle public relations where creativity, cultural awareness, and meaningful community impact come together.
“I am deeply grateful for the generosity behind the Sally Heet Memorial Scholarship and honored to become part of a legacy that continues to invest in the next generation of public relations professionals," said Jenkins. "I hope to honor that investment by building a career rooted in thoughtful storytelling, meaningful relationships, and service to the communities and organizations I have the privilege to serve.”
Anayi Vaca Gutierrez, Horace and Susie Revels Cayton Scholarship Award Winner
Anayi Vaca is a student at Gonzaga University pursuing a major in Public Relations. She will begin her senior year in the fall of 2026. Along with her studies, Anayi has worked as a PR director for multiple school-run organizations and currently works as a marketing assistant on campus. She will also be managing the social media for the GU PRSSA Chapter in the upcoming school year. Anayi’s career goal is to work in community engagement and Brand Strategizing in hopes of building meaningful connections between organizations and the communities they serve through inclusive communication and strategic branding.
“I am extremely grateful to be the recipient of the Horace and Susie Revels Cayton Scholarship," said Anayi Vaca. "As a first-generation student, this award is very meaningful to my family and I, as it has reassured our faith in opportunities in this field and motivates me to keep working to represent my culture in the Public Relations field."
Interested in supporting future scholarship opportunities for students?
Make a donation to PRSA Puget Sound’s scholarship fund. Contributions of every size can make a real difference!
