Awards & Scholarships

The Susan Francis Prize is awarded annually by CPRS Calgary for the public relations student who completes a submission about a project that has or may contribute to making the world a better place.

The Prize

This $1,000 Prize is awarded annually by CPRS Calgary through the Canadian Public Relations Society Foundation (formerly the Communications + Public Relations Foundation) to a student of public relations or communications in a recognized Public Relations and Communications program at Mount Royal University, the University of Calgary, SAIT Polytechnic, or Bow Valley College. To qualify, the student must entering their final program year the following September, with eligibility to graduate the following year.

Susan Francis

Susan Francis was educated at the University of Calgary and Carleton School of Journalism (Hons). She earned CPRS Accreditation in 1986. At various times in her career, she was a member of CPRS Ottawa, Calgary, Edmonton and Vancouver. She dedicated her life and career to implementing programs of action for causes that she was passionate about. Established by the Francis family, the Susan Francis Prize is awarded in Susan’s memory.

Entries

Entries for consideration by the jury may be submitted in one of two forms relevant to public relations or communications:

Option 1: A final year course research paper on an appropriate topic (of at least 8 to 10 pages; longer submissions will be considered too). 

Option 2: A campaign proposal created to meet specific organizational objectives (with no page limits). The proposed public relations or communications campaign could be implemented to the benefit of a specific organization—the organization must be identified.

Topics
Regardless of the entry format chosen, topics for entries should be selected from social issues that may have been important to Susan Francis in her career – such as gender equality, the environment, international development, political action, charity, and crisis communication – and should demonstrate how solid communications theories or tools can contribute to making the world a better place (For more perspective on Susan and her career, see her attached biography in Appendix A of the application form).

Judging Criteria

The submission’s writing must be clear and concise, and the entry must demonstrate your understanding of communications strategy development, tactics, overall implementation of the project and how it would be evaluated. Your submission should also reflect your personal passion for the subject matter or for meeting the campaign communications goals. For campaign submissions, the use of the RACE formula is required, either explicitly or implicitly, as an appropriate means to fully explain the project and cover the areas listed above. In the research paper option, an appropriate evaluation of at least two different cases is required, with suggestions for best practices to be used by organizations in the future.

All submissions will be adjudicated against the above stated criteria and scored for imagination, creativity, and professional understanding of the public relations process and demonstration of ethical standards. The winning submission will be published to the CPRS Calgary website, and also in the Mount Royal University Public Relations Department’s Western Communication Report.

Applications

Applications should be sent electronically to CPRS (Calgary). A jury chair and three public relations professionals from Calgary will review all submissions and determine a winner by scoring submissions against pre-determined measures. 

Submission Deadline: Submission deadline is June 1 each year with the winner notified on or before August 15.

Email submission and application to: awards@cprscalgary.com

Application Form

CPRS Calgary is committed to helping and supporting students to pave their career path in public relations. As part of our local chapter’s 60th anniversary celebration, we created the Calgary Legacy Scholarship, which is administered by the Canadian Public Relations Society Foundation. We encourage CPRS Calgary professional members to contribute to the Legacy Scholarship fund by contacting our Scholarships and Awards Chair.

The Scholarship

The $1,000 Scholarship is awarded annually to a student studying public relations or communications in a recognized Public Relations or Communications program at either Mount Royal University, the University of Calgary, Bow Valley College, or SAIT Polytechnic. In addition, the winner will receive complimentary CPRS student membership for one year of their studies, or a complimentary one-year bridge/affiliate membership upon completion of study if graduating, and a complimentary registration for one CPRS Calgary event.

The Candidate

The Scholarship will be awarded to a student in their second year of undergraduate study in public relations or communications who has demonstrated an overall understanding of public relations and communications [i.e., the theoretical and practical elements, values and principles]. 

All applicants will be required to submit a resume, a completed application form, a letter from their education institute that attests to eligibility/enrolment in their studies, and a two-page written submission on the following topic (400 to 600 words double spaced):

“Codes of ethics or professional standards talk about the practice of public relations being in the public interest. What does that mean to you, and why is it important?”

Deadline 

Deadline is June 1 each year with the winner notified on or before August 15.

Application Form

Scholarship Donations

The Canadian Public Relations Society Foundation (formerly the Communications + Public Relations Foundation) is a pan-Canadian organization that unites business, government, academic leaders and public relations practitioners in the advancement of public relations education through scholarships (including the Calgary Legacy Scholarship) awards, lectures and funding of research initiatives that promote ethical practice and professionalism in public communications.

To keep this scholarship going into the next decade, we will need to ‘top up’ that base fund every year. This is where CPRS Calgary members like you can make a difference. Make it part of your own legacy to the future of your profession.  Your donation to the Canadian Public Relations Society Foundation can be specifically directed to funding a scholarship for PR students here in Calgary. You will receive a formal tax receipt for your donation. Thanks in advance for your contribution – whatever you can give is SO gratefully received!

Click Here To Donate

The Torchia Scholarship is awarded annually to the student who best exemplifies the spirit and practice of bilingualism in the Canadian communications and public relations profession.

Candidate

The Scholarship will be awarded to a student who has chosen to study public relations/communications in one of Canada’s two official languages that is not his/her first language or mother tongue and is fluent in the other. The student will be entering his/her second year of undergraduate study in public relations/communications at a Canadian university or college, in either a degree program or a multi-year diploma or certificate program that meets recognized standards of education. The scholarship is valued at $1,500 and is for one year only.

Applications

Applications should be sent to the Communications + Public Relations Foundation, Suite 1515, 73 Widdicombe Hill Blvd, Toronto, Ontario, M9R 4B3. A jury chair and three bilingual public relations professionals and/or educators will review submissions and determine a successful candidate. The jury may require a telephone interview in either English or French.

Submission Timeline

Deadline is April 30 each year with the winner notified on or before September 15 and announced in our News section.