Where the Idea for Colonel Communications Came From

Since starting Colonel Communications in August, many people have asked me what brought on the idea of a student-run PR firm at EKU. So, this is a little bit of background into how Colonel Communications got its start.

While attending NASHvantage, a regional PRSSA conference at Belmont University, this past spring I, along with the other members of EKU’s PRSSA chapter, had a revelation when we learned that many other colleges and universities operate student-run public relations firms. We were told that these firms function as actual PR agencies, working with real world clients by providing services in marketing, brand promotion and management, fundraising, special events, and the like. This news astounded all of us when we realized that public relations, marketing, communications, and all sorts of students are able to get the hands-on experience they want and need to be successful through this awesome opportunity. So the EKU PRSSA board and I asked ourselves, “What’s stopping our school from doing this?”

Next thing I knew, I was in charge of founding Colonel Communications, Eastern Kentucky University’s first student-run public relations firm. With help from the PRSSA team, we built this new business and brought it to our school as a student organization. From developing a name and logo, writing a constitution and bylaws, constructing a website, and developing a firm structure and system, we dedicated the majority of the summer to this project. By the beginning of the Fall 2015 semester, Colonel Communications was up and running recruiting members and clients.

Though it was a slow and difficult process, starting the firm has been one of the most rewarding and educational experiences of my professional life thus far. I’m very excited for what Colonel Communications has already become and for what it will continue to grow into in the coming years. I hate that I’ll be graduating in May and won’t get to be a significant part of it as it reaches its full potential because I know what an awesome opportunity it will be for the students who invest their time in it.

Tana Collett

OrgSync

We are now up and running on OrgSync, EKU’s campus enegagement network that connects student to organizations in a private online community. Anyone at EKU can view our page, learn more about Colonel Communications, check out upcoming events, and view our photos. Members of the firm will have special access to additional information, forms, documents, networking, etc.

To view our profile, search “Colonel Communications” on eku.orgsync.com or visit https://orgsync.com/121923/chapter.

Informational Meeting 9/2

Last night was our first informational meeting where we met with students interested in becoming members of Colonel Communications. Attendees enjoyed free Little Caesars pizza and listened as Firm Director Tana Collett presented a PowerPoint describing the new business. Students asked a series of questions about membership and operations of the firm, and received an informational handout. They also had the opportunity to fill out an application.

If you weren’t able to attend, here’s what you missed:
Informational Handout
Informational PowerPoint

All information discussed at our meeting is covered in the PowerPoint and handout attached above. If you have any questions, please let us know by emailing ekucolonelcommunications@gmail.com!