Showdown helps Texas Tech students handle public relations situations

Managing an academic scandal from a public relations standpoint is something no university wants to deal with, but something for which all must be prepared.

Public relations students in the Texas Tech College of Media and Communication were tested in just such a way, and many more, as part of the inaugural Texas Tech Public Relations Showdown, a weeklong competition hosted by the department of public relations.

"I'm really pleased with how the event went as a whole, especially given it was the first year and we've never done anything like this before in the department," said Trent Seltzer, chairman of the department. "I'm incredibly proud of the students who competed in the event and completed all of the challenges - particularly the freshmen and sophomores who dove in and tackled the challenges, even though they were new to the program and to public relations. It says a lot about the character and drive of our majors."

The team of Lauren West, a senior public relations major from Coppell; McKenzie Hopson, a senior public relations major from Gatesville; Emily Jarrell, a senior public relations major from Carrollton; and Chandler Moore, a senior public relations major from Spring, impressed judges with their solution to the final challenge to win the Showdown.

Their prize was two free Southwest Airlines tickets each, one used to travel to Dallas along with free accommodations at the Gaylord Texan Resort to network with prominent alumni and local public relations professionals. The second ticket could be used to fly to any destination Southwest serves in the United States.

Teams in the grand prize competition received the challenge a few days before it was due, originally March 4 before inclement weather forced it to be postponed to March 25. They spent the few days before the final event developing a public relations strategy and solution.

The final challenge depicted a fictional situation in which a national publication released a story detailing academic fraud charges involving two former Tech athletes. The three final teams presented their solutions as if they were actual university employees, designating themselves as spokespersons, athletic department officials or university officials during a mock news conference where a five-person panel of judges graded and voted for the winning team.

Teams also received individual prizes such as gift cards or autographed sports memorabilia for winning the five individual challenges.