What the Champions for PRSSA Can Do for You: A Chat With Gary McCormick
In 1981, Betsy Plank, APR, Fellow PRSA, the founder of PRSSA, worked with several members of the Society to create the Friends of PRSSA.Their goal was to build an avenue between PR students and seasoned practitioners. Nearly a decade later, the program was absorbed by PRSA and renamed Champions for PRSSA.
For over 40 years, the Champions for PRSSA have been providing mentorship, scholarships and opportunities to PR students. Yet, sadly, many students are still unaware of the benefits and opportunities presented by the group.
To show students the value of the program, Gary McCormick, APR, Fellow PRSA, the co-chair of the Champions for PRSSA, has shared his experience and perspectives on the Champions in the interview below.
- What does the Champions for PRSSA program mean for you?
“Champions for PRSSA holds a special place for me, as Betsy Plank made me a co-chair following years of her mentoring me. I knew firsthand her commitment to students and professionals and the benefits I received from her efforts. I’ve worked to make this possible for other students and young professionals and have watched with pride as more and more professionals have signed on to help students. I think this is one of the few places that students can go to get answers to their questions, build relationships and help develop their career.”
- What does mentorship look like for you?
“In describing how I approach mentorship and how it works for me, I often liken it to parenting from the aspect that (1) I want the student to succeed and achieve their goals, (2) it can develop into a long-term relationship with benefits going both ways and (3) sometimes it requires some “tough love” to make students understand that they are the ones that determine the success based on their input and commitment — it isn’t up to me to do it for them.”
- In your experience, what is the importance and impact of the Champions for PRSSA program?
“The key thing for students to know is that professionals who have become Champions are the easiest to approach to learn how to begin interacting with professionals. These people are actively saying they want to help, which means that the fear or intimidation of approaching them shouldn’t be the same as reaching out to another professional you don’t know. Betsy used to say this is a ‘safe haven’ for students to reach out with their questions. Knowing the importance of building relationships in our industry, this is a great first step to building that skill with someone who wants to help students.”
- As a Champion for PRSSA, what types of assistance, support or guidance do you offer to PRSSA members?
“I think that the support of guidance for PRSSA members from Champions runs the gamut. It’s up to the student to identify what their questions or needs are. They can approach a Champion based on their experience, geographic location, bio or just at random and begin the process of asking for help. I’ve always been open to answering a simple question, to making a connection or helping a student to identify other Champions that best help meet their needs. I’m confident in saying that I think Champions can help provide whatever guidance or support a student needs, if they can identify what they’re seeking.”
- How have you seen students take advantage of the Champions for PRSSA?
“While I’ve seen some students take advantage of the Champions, the vast majority don’t pursue the opportunity. Students who are active in PRSSA at a national or even local level seem to actively make their own connections, which is great. I think most students miss the opportunity for connections that can help them outside their market or with whom they haven’t made an in-person connection. I don’t think that we communicate the benefits of the Champions enough to students and I hope we can make more students aware of its value.”
- Can you give us an example of a student success story from students who have taken advantage of the Champions for PRSSA program?
“One story that I tell frequently is my relationship with Brian Price, 2013 PRSSA President. Brian attended ICON as a sophomore in 2010 and came to the Champions Coffee with a fellow student. As he tells the story, he came into the room and didn’t really know what to do, so he looked around and saw me standing there at the table. He introduced himself and we had a general conversation about his year in school, ICON and his interests. I introduced him to some other Champions and went on my way, talking to other students. Serving as the PRSA National Chair that year, I opened the General Session at ICON and when it was over, there stood Brian at the foot of the stage waiting for me. He remarked that I’d left part of my experience out of our discussion and asked if we could have coffee while we were there. He and I began a relationship that has resulted in him becoming the PRSSA President, getting his first job and, most recently, hiring me to do some work for him. It has become a friendship as well as a mentoring relationship, which continues today.”
- What advice do you have for students when reaching out to a Champion for PRSSA?
“For your first email or phone call, know what you’re asking the Champion to do. Outline what you’re looking for and ask for specific help. Are you wanting information on a specific market, do you want to talk about the industry, are you seeking an internship or job-seeking information? By doing this, both parties understand what they are committing to in the relationship. It may be that the Champion you contact isn’t the right person for the job, and they can direct you to someone that can help you instead of both of you becoming frustrated. Not every student or professional approaches this the same way or has the same background. The key thing is that Champions are committed to helping students navigate the process and become more successful at networking, mentoring and career development.”
- How can students connect with Champions for PRSSA who aren’t located in their region?
“All of the professionals have their contact information on the website, which students can review. Simply go to the Champions for PRSSA Directory to find a Champion and make a connection.”
