WKU’s Advertising and Public Relations (Ad+PR) program has announced a community outreach effort designed to provide students the opportunity to gain first-hand experience in the field, while giving back to the local community in a truly significant way.
Ad+PR Community Projects will become a support center for non-profit organizations within the 10-county Barren River Area Development District that require assistance with their advertising and public relations needs.
Beginning this month, students from a senior-level advertising capstone class will be working with BRIMS, the Barren River Imaginative Museum of Science, to design, produce and distribute an advertising and public relations campaign to create community awareness for the program and drive their development efforts. BRIMS’ has a rich history of igniting the minds of children about the power and the potential of science in today’s world, but of late is suffering from a lack of community awareness and declining donations.
April McCauley, who joined BRIMS last December as director, is now leading the members of the organization through strategic planning sessions. The students will work with McCauley and the BRIMS Board to conduct research leading to a complete rebranding plan to help bring BRIMS back to life.
Professor Cliff Shaluta, program coordinator for Ad+PR Community Projects, sees this as “an amazing opportunity for advertising and public relations students” to gain experience by applying their ideas and talents to real-world community problems.
“The most exciting part of this opportunity is that students from other advanced classes in print and interactive design will also add their talents to the BRIMS project, making this the ultimate collaborative experience,” Shaluta said. “Working together, students will help the museum return to its roots and continue to share the excitement of science for future generations in our area.”
“During a tour of our current facility, professor Shaluta and his students were delighted – and I think surprised – with the discovery of science,” McCauley said. “What we’d like them to do is help us share that feeling with everyone.”
More online: WKU Ad+PR program and the Community Projects Initiative.
Contact: Cliff Shaluta, (270) 745-5833.
