New Niagara College graduate Graeme Collins was given the Student Award of Excellence by the Hamilton chapter of the Canadian Public Relations Society.

A new Niagara College (NC) graduate is the recipient of the Student Award of Excellence by the Hamilton chapter of the Canadian Public Relations Society (CPRS) for outstanding leadership and professionalism in the public relations field.

Graeme Collins, who completed his studies in the Public Relations Graduate Certificate program at NC in April and will graduate officially in June, was honoured for leadership in personal and scholastic activities, understanding and application of the principles of public relations theory, a commitment to the future of the public relations profession, and as a leader who has the ability to make contributions to that profession.

Collins, who is from the small town of Caistor Centre in the Niagara region and is a resident of Hamilton, set his sights on a career in public relations early.

“I chose PR after I had finished my undergrad at the University of Guelph,” he said. “I wanted to pursue something that would take all the things I love to do and build a career. Whenever I looked into a career that involved writing, public speaking, client relations and strategic planning, PR would be on the top of my list.

“Niagara College’s PR program instantly attracted me because I kept hearing about how focused it was on giving students the opportunities they needed to grow and develop into strong members of the industry,” he added. “Also, the smaller class sizes made for a more intimate and personalized learning experience.”

NC professor Emily McInerney, School of Media Studies, praised the CPRS for its choice of Collins.

“Graeme demonstrated leadership and a level of PR professionalism right from the beginning,” she said. “He sets personal goals and achieves them, and this determination will help him to continue to be successful.”

Collins recently started his new position in the marketing department of Miller Thomson LLP.

The CPRS Hamilton chapter represents professional public relations practitioners in Hamilton, Halton, Niagara and southwestern Ontario, and promotes professional development of public relations.

Currently celebrating its 50th year as a College of Applied Arts and Technology, NC is a leader in applied education and a key contributor to the economies of Niagara and Ontario. A regional college with global reach, NC offers more than 100 diploma, bachelor degree and advanced level programs.

For more information on the Public Relations program, visit: http://www.niagaracollege.ca/media-studies/programs/public-relations/

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For media inquiries, please contact:

Susan McConnell
Media advisor
905-641-2252 x 4330
Cell: 905-933-6259
smcconnell@niagaracollege.ca