PRISM was recognized as the Outstanding Organization of the Year at the 26th annual University Student Leadership Awards held in Squires Student Center on Wednesday, April 24. The student-run ad agency received this accolade for their exceptional leadership, commitment and achievements throughout the most recent academic year.
Presented by Student Engagement and Campus Life at Virginia Tech, the University Student Leadership Awards honors individuals and organizations that have gone above and beyond in their work and service to both Virginia Tech and the surrounding community. The Outstanding Organization of the Year category recognizes one organization that demonstrates exemplary “mission-driven leadership” and whose contributions have made a significant impact in their field.
Kelsey Stoner, current Chief Marketing Officer of PRISM, was in attendance at the ceremony to receive the award on behalf of the organization.
“The joy I felt when I heard PRISM’s name called as Outstanding Organization of the Year was so overwhelming,” she said. “When walking back to my seat, I remember not being able to hold myself back from just smiling ear to ear. This award proves everything PRISMites of present and past have worked on for almost 10 years and I am so proud to be a part of it all. We won’t stop here and will always continue breaking boundaries!”
Since its founding in 2010, PRISM has evolved from the desire to develop a social media presence for the Pamplin College of Business into a dynamic, interdisciplinary marketing agency driven by a passionate group of student-innovators.
“The idea of PRISM came to me in 2009, when I realized students needed an experience that would prepare them for the real world and needed to work interdisciplinarily with each other,” explained Donna Wertalik, Director of Marketing for Pamplin and PRISM’s faculty advisor. “PRISM has reached amazing heights in the past 10 years because of the students who excel beyond words and truly make an impact on global business. PRISM will forever be one of my greatest achievements in my career and I’m so honored to work with the top 1-2% of Virginia Tech students,” she said.
Over the past year, PRISMites have worked hard to provide their clients with high-quality brand positioning, social media strategy, analytics capabilities, and creative services. Some of their recent projects include: organizing brand activation events for Smithfield Foods, The Virginian and First & Main; developing a marketing plan for Virginia Tech’s FutureHAUS team, which won the 2018 International Solar Decathlon in Dubai; implementing social media strategies such as the campaign for Virginia Tech Giving Day 2019, through which the university raised over $2.8 million; and recently launching the Pamplin Presents: Our Voice Podcast.
PRISM is honored to receive this award, and excited for the opportunities to come in the year ahead as they continue to provide innovative solutions and services to current and prospective clients.