Four Buffalo State public relations alumni earn Excalibur Awards

Four alumni of Buffalo State’s Master of Science in Public Relations (M.S in PR) program were honored with Excalibur Awards from the Public Relations Society of America’s Buffalo Niagara chapter at its annual ceremony in mid-October. Since the inception of the M.S. in 2022, 13 of its students have received Student Excalibur Awards. The annual competition recognizes outstanding public relations work by professionals and students in the Buffalo Niagara region. Campaigns are judged by public relations professionals from outside the Buffalo area with no connections to the students or their work.

This year’s award winners, and their clients, were:

• Peter Murphy, ’20; University at Buffalo's School of Engineering and Applied Sciences
• Darra Kubera, ’18; University at Buffalo School of Architecture and Planning
• Stephanie Codd, ’26, and Courtney Helinski, ’26, recognized for Best PR Campaign for the campaigns they produced in Deborah Silverman's COM 690 Master's Project course last spring 

The capstone course for the M.S. in PR program, COM 690: Master’s Project provides students with the opportunity to develop campaigns. Since 2012, the course has been taught by Deborah Silverman, associate professor and chair of the Communication Department. The course provides students with hands-on experience developing real-world campaigns while building their professional skills and strengthening their resumes.

"I'm delighted to see these outstanding students recognized for their professional quality work on their PR campaigns,” Silverman said, “a format that is widely used in the public relations profession.”

“While working on my master’s project, I was also working in the development department at Homespace, where the plan’s tactics and objectives were unfolding in real time," said Codd. “Largely thanks in part to my masters in PR, I was able to land my dream job this past fall as VP of Development at VIA Visually Impaired Advancement. I’m excited to apply my coursework to real life experiences.”

Beyond developing campaigns, students also gain experience presenting work that meets professional industry standards.

“The campaign was especially rewarding because it allowed me to apply strategic communications to an organization that plays an important role in our community,” said Helinski, who was awarded for her campaign, More Than a Rink: Cornerstone Arena. “Receiving this award is incredibly meaningful because it recognizes the opportunity to bring professional experience and academic studies together in a project with a real impact. As someone balancing a professional career while continuing my education at Buffalo State, this recognition reinforces the value of lifelong learning, stepping outside your comfort zone and continuing to challenge yourself.”

Pictured: Courtney Helsinki (left), Deborah Silverman, Stephanie Codd.