The Student Bernays Awards are presented to current students within the San Diego and Imperial Counties for demonstrating outstanding strategic thought and planning.

Student Awards will be announced at the Edward L. Bernays Mark of Excellence Awards program in October.

The Student Bernays Award category recognizes outstanding public relations programs or campaigns – real or hypothetical – developed by San Diego students. Only one Student Award of Excellence may be awarded; up to two other entries may be awarded an Award of Merit.

The competition is open to both PRSA SD/IC student members and non-members. The submission must be the original work of student(s) enrolled at a college or university in San Diego or Imperial Counties, although no physical “execution” of the entry needs to have taken place. Course work/plans are valid entries if they detail strategic thought in the areas of research, planning, execution, and evaluation.

The student(s) work must have occurred between July 1, 2023, and May 30, 2024. All entries require a summary detailing the thought behind the research, planning, execution, and evaluation of a real or hypothetical program or campaign.