Posted on Tuesday, February 6, 2007
Sherri Slafka, senior public relations and Spanish major at Westminster College, was recently awarded the 2007 Bob O'Gara Scholarship Award, previously called the Outstanding Western Pennsylvania Undergraduate Student in Public Relations Renaissance Award, from the Pittsburgh chapter of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA).
"Given all of her positive attributes, including her commitment to academic excellence, professional development, and leadership, it should not be surprising that Sherri is a winner," said Delores Natale, a Westminster College lecturer in public relations.
This is the sixth time in the last seven years that a Westminster College student has won the award. Slafka joins Kristan Kohley, a senior public relations major at Westminster who works for Ketchum and accepted an award for the company; Megan Sigler, a 2005 Westminster graduate from Cranberry Township who also accepted an award from the Society of Automotive Engineers; Sara Ialongo, a 2003 graduate from Ellwood City; Amanda Kengersky, a 2002 graduate from Punxsutawney; and Megan Duda Corbin, a 2001 graduate from Erie.
Debora Foster, a 1974 Westminster graduate, chair of the Westminster College Board of Trustees, and former vice president of corporate communications for the H.J. Heinz Co., was named to the PRSA Pittsburgh Hall of Fame during the awards ceremony.
Jennifer Shifler Gross, a 1999 Westminster College graduate from Pittsburgh, will be the president of the Pittsburgh chapter of the PRSA next year.
Slafka is a daughter of Gary and Sandra Slafka, Irwin, and a graduate of Hempfield Area High School. She has been an active member of PRSSA for four years, including leadership positions of president and vice president. Slafka is active in many Westminster organizations. She is a student representative for the Student Alumni Association, a member of the Chapel staff, a Young Presbyterian Scholar mentor, and a greeter and tour guide for the Westminster College Admissions Team. Slafka has studied abroad in Argentina and Australia and has interned at The Herald, Legend Financial Advisors, Inc., and the Westminster College Admissions Office. She is a member of Omicron Delta Pi, Lambda Pi Eta, Sigma Delta Pi, and Pi Sigma Pi, all honor societies.
Kohley, the 2006 award winner, is a daughter of Philip and Melanie Kohley, Saxonburg, and a graduate of Knoch High School.
Contact Slafka at slafkasm@westminster.edu for more information.
