How a PRSA Scholarship Made a Difference for a Local College Senior
Last year, Marissa Crane was the recipient of PRSA Puget Sound’s Horace and Susie Revels Cayton Scholarship, which supports students from systemically underrepresented racial/ethnic backgrounds who are pursuing a public relations career.
Marissa is currently a Senior at Seattle Pacific University majoring in Communication Studies. At SPU, she has developed a wide range of skills related to professional communications, PR and cause marketing, including media production and journalistic interviewing. That has included working as a staff member for The Falcon, the university’s student-run newspaper.
Read the interview below to learn more about this exceptional student, including her words of advice for students applying to PRSA Puget Sound’s 2024 scholarships.
What excites you about pursuing a career in PR?
The primary thing that excites me about a career in PR is the power to communicate with companies and groups that I believe in. Missional motivation means a lot to me, so a career in PR can prepare me to communicate for a business that has missional value to me and is making a positive difference for others.
How has the PRSA scholarship support made a difference in helping you achieve your educational and career goals?
Support from the PRSA has assisted me financially, and therefore educationally, by letting me feel more equipped to enter my adult life with little to no debt. Scholarships are an avenue for me to begin my career and post-grad life without overwhelming student debt. The PRSA has helped me move towards a post-grad life without the weight of debt weighing on me as much.
What advice would you give to students thinking about applying for a PRSA Puget Sound scholarship in 2024?
I would absolutely encourage students to apply for the PRSA scholarship in 2024. Choose to believe in yourself and go for it—even if you feel you don’t qualify. You never know what could happen, and it could change how you prepare to enter the professional world.
support PRSA Puget Sound Scholars
You can donate to support future scholars by visiting https://prsapugetsound.org/catalog.php and adding a donation to your cart.
If you would like to volunteer with the PRSA PS Scholarship Committee, email Curtis Rogers for more information.
