PR aims to clean up campus

Bradley’s communications seniors are gaining real-world experience by creating an actual public relations campaign for the Communications 480 (COM 480) capstone project.
Public relations major seniors are required to complete COM 480 in which they research, plan, develop and execute a complete campaign. Groups of three to four students work on the campaign for a Peoria area business showcasing the culmination of their work.
One group is looking to bring beauty to campus with their event “Pick Up Peoria!”.
“Teams will collect litter on Bradley’s campus and the surrounding areas for one hour and then return to the Alumni Quad for a reception and award ceremony,” said senior Erin Guth. “Prizes will be awarded to the top three teams who collect the most litter.”
Guth’s group, The Emerald Group, is trying to raise awareness for the litter issue in Peoria. She said Illinois is ranked in the top ten dirtiest states in the nation, and the group hopes to help Illinois move away from that ranking.
“We call ourselves The Emerald Group because Bradley is seen by some as a gem in the middle of Peoria,” Guth said.
The Emerald Group and their COM 480 class use their gained knowledge and portfolios compiled from their first three years at Bradley to produce campaigns that will be presented in front of a panel of judges.
“Theory and strategy are stressed through studies of classic PR case programs and development of PR campaigns for actual businesses and organizations,” said senior Emily Streeter. “A final campaign requires research, writing, production, application and analysis skills.”
At the end of the semester, one winner is selected and wins several prizes, the most prominent being a lunch with Charles Ebeling, an experienced public relations professional with more than 25 years in communications with Toyota and McDonald’s. Additionally, the winning team will receive a $2000 cash prize and a letter of recognition.
Pick Up Peoria! will take place 1 to 3 p.m. on Nov. 2 on the Alumni Quad. The competition will be one hour long and will be followed by a reception with refreshments and an awards ceremony. The three teams that collect the most garbage will be awarded Thirty-thirty Coffee Co. gift cards.