On March 20, five alum from Niagara College’s Public Relations graduate certificate program returned to their alma mater to inspire graduating students.

The annual Grad Panel event is a chance for alum to offer their professional insights and experience with this year’s PR class.

“The PR Grad Panel and Awards is an opportunity for the class to gather one last time, for us to share last words of advice and encouragement and to celebrate their achievements,” said Emily McInerney, PR Professor and Program Coordinator.

L to R: Patricia Menear, Naomi Fox, Ray McIlRoy, Rachel Dedinsky, Erika Navarro.

Alumni panelists included:

• Ray McIRoy (PR, 2008), Senior Vice President, Marketing & Communications Lead, Kaiser & Partners, Inc.
• Patricia Menear (PR, 2020), Communications Specialist, Toronto Metropolitan University
• Rachel Dedinsky (PR, 2018), Communications Consultant, Niagara Region
• Erika Navarro (PR, 2015) Supervisor, Communications & Public Relations, Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority (NPCA)
• Naomi Fox (PR, 2024) Account Coordinator, Creative Guild.
  

  L to R: Emily Dwyer and Madi Douma

The event was planned by students Madi Douma and Emily Dwyer as part of their Special Events Management course.

Following roundtable discussions in small groups, the 14 students had face-time with each of the panelists and an opportunity to ask questions one-on-one.

“Throughout this program we have had so many opportunities to speak with past grads who are now excelling in the industry,” said Douma. “It has been extremely valuable and insightful and has done so much to calm my nerves and any anxiety I had about starting my career.”

The duo decked out the boardroom in the Applied Health Institute in gold and glamour, offering a photo booth and sparking mocktails for a toast to the class.

“We wanted a Grammys/Golden Globes theme to really feel like we were celebrating all of our hard work and creative projects over the year,” explained Douma.

To commemorate the end of the program, Douma leveraged the event to showcase their classmates’ favourite memories, projects, hopes for the future, and ‘most likely to.’

The panel also featured a special student award presentation.

Meghann Riley of Niagara Falls was awarded the Senator Keith Davey Memorial Public Relations Award.

This award is given to the Public Relations Graduate Certificate student who has shown extraordinary skills as a mentor to their peers and who has actively pursued, cultivated and benefited from the mentorship of faculty and industry partners. The $1,500 award was established by Terry O’Malley, a strong supporter of Niagara College and a long-time friend of Senator Davey.

Ellie Stittle and Marcus Giancola of Welland were both recipients of the Associate Dean Award of Excellence, which recognizes not only academic achievement but also a positive work ethic and consistent effort in the program.

Tiana Melnychuk of St. Catharines was awarded the Coordinator Award of Excellence which recognizes a student who will act as a positive ambassador of the program upon graduation.

The event marked the end of the academic year as students embark on their four-week internship placements through the month of April.

Douma, originally from Chatham, sought out the PR program after completing her Bachelor of Arts in Business Communications at Brock University.

“I did not feel ready to enter the workforce, but I had heard about the PR program from a few of my Brock professors,” said Douma. “Public Relations was always the field I wanted to end up in, after meeting the Public Relations coordinator of my local radio station, back in Chatham.”

At the NC PR Grad Panel event, panelists shared tips for the soon-to-be grads to succeed in the industry.

“From going the extra mile to help a colleague to attending as many networking events and coffee chats as possible,” said Douma. “I am feeling ready for my internship after speaking with our panelists, and I feel I have a strong idea of what is going to be expected of me and how to make the most of my time.”

Douma will begin her internship at Enterprise Canada in the Hamilton office. She hopes to leverage her passion for sports and love of event planning.

Dwyer, also a Brock graduate from St. Catharines, will complete her internship at Niagara Health, a testament to the scope and variety in the PR profession.

“The class of 2024-25 impressed the teaching team with their high level of commitment, focus and professionalism,” said McInerney. “They embraced the many networking opportunities presented to them and became cohesive group of peers, resulting in many strong friendships being formed. We can’t wait to see what this class achieves.”