Seton Hall University PR Students Compete on the National Stage

A team of public relations students from Seton Hall University is making an impact on the national stage as they compete in the Bateman Case Study Competition, the nation’s premier public relations contest for college students. Hosted annually by the Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA), the Bateman Competition challenges students from universities across the country to research, plan, implement, and evaluate a full-scale public relations campaign for a real-world client. This year, more than 70 schools are participating in the rigorous contest to position partner EveryLibrary and the EveryLibrary Institute as the leading national organization for library activists, donors and users.

The team—comprised of Vivienne Caccavale, Sabina Renes, Jeimy Simon and Lara Woodin—works under the guidance of faculty advisors Professor Jeanne Salvatore and Sadia Cheema, Ph.D. Their campaign aims to engage students and the broader Seton Hall community in advocacy efforts to protect access to books and library resources.

“This is an incredible opportunity to make our voices heard and defend our access to knowledge,” said Jeimy Simon, team leader. “We want to inspire students to take action and stand up for libraries and intellectual freedom.”

The students hosted two successful campus events as part of their PR campaign. Fight for Knowledge & Get a Cupcake engaged nearly 65 community members to come together in one hour, to learn how to support access to libraries and books. The Make Your Own Bookmark event was designed to encourage creativity among faculty and students while reinforcing the importance of access to literature.

Seton Hall’s Bateman Team has a strong track record in the competition. Last year, under Simon’s leadership, the team reached the national finals with their campaign for Culturs Magazine, a global multicultural publication dedicated to elevating voices of culturally fluid individuals. Judges noted that their work demonstrated excellence in strategic communication, community engagement, and empowerment of diverse individuals.

For Simon, leading the Bateman Team is a deeply personal achievement. Born and raised in the Dominican Republic, she moved to the United States five years ago and currently resides in Union City, N.J. A graduate of Union City High School, Simon is passionate about using public relations to drive social impact.

“Being part of Bateman has given me the platform to advocate for important issues while applying the skills I’ve developed at Seton Hall,” Simon noted, adding, “I’m incredibly grateful for the support of my peers, the Seton Hall community, and our advisor, Professor Jeanne Salvatore, who has guided us every step of the way.”

The results of the Bateman Case Study Competition will be announced on the PRSA website on May 8. The top three teams will be invited to present their campaigns to a panel of industry judges, earning national recognition.

Learn more about EveryLibrary and the Bateman Case Study Competition here.

An online version of the press release is available here.