UNR NEWS RELEASE – Reno-based Public Relations and Digital Engagement firm, The Abbi Agency, recently established a 10-year scholarship fund for Donald W. Reynolds School of Journalism and Center for Advanced Media Studies Strategic Communications students. The scholarship is particularly notable because, for the first time in the school’s history, part-time students are eligible to apply.
“I was a non-traditional, older student at Nevada,” Whitaker said of her decision to open the opportunity to part-time students. “I know there are a lot of hard-working students that don’t fit the traditional role, yet still excel.”
Whitaker graduated from the Reynolds School of Journalism in 2004 and brings a decade’s worth of top-level public relations experience to her agency’s numerous clients. The Abbi Agency specializes in business-to-business products and services, food and beverage companies, product launches, and sports and outdoors companies and events. A number of Whitaker’s employees are Reynolds School graduates, a trend that she sees continuing in the future, making local support for the program all the more important.
“Most of our team members attended the Reynolds School,” Whitaker said. “I think it’s important that all the marketing, advertising and PR agencies in town support students. They are our future employees.”
Reynolds School Strategic Communications Professor Todd Felts is particularly excited about the new scholarship and both the opportunities it will open for students and what it says about the school’s relationship with local public relations agencies and media outlets.
“We appreciate Abbi stepping up and recognizing the importance of financially supporting students,” Felts said. “We’re often amazed by how much our community engages with our students and this support is a concrete example that relationships are critical to our students’ success.”
The first Strategic Communications Scholarship will be awarded in the fall of 2014. Students should apply online here prior to February 1, 2014.
Founded in 1874 as Nevada’s land-grant university, the University of Nevada, Reno ranks in the top tier of best national universities. With nearly 19,000 students, the University is driven to contribute a culture of student success, world-improving research and outreach that enhances communities and business. Part of the Nevada System of Higher Education, the University has the system’s largest research program and is home to the state’s medical school. With outreach and education programs in all Nevada counties and home to one of the largest study-abroad consortiums, the University extends across the state and around the world. For more information, visit www.unr.edu.
