On Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2019 from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m., students, faculty and alumni gathered at the Science Education and Research Center on Temple University’s main campus for Temple PRSSA’s 50th Anniversary Gala. Temple PRSSA’s 50th Anniversary Gala was planned by PRowl Public Relations and Temple PRSSA members Shannon McQuaid, Maggie Larkin, Lindsey Danasko and Sydnee’ Carter. If you were not able to make it to the special event, you are in luck! I wrote a play-by-play summary of everything that happened during the celebration.
4 p.m.
Set-up officially began at approximately 4 p.m., and our PRowl Public Relations account team and other members of Temple PRSSA gathered to ensure decorations were in place, catering was ready to go, technology was working and registration was in-check at the SERC. The pre-event jitters set in, and everyone was extremely anxious to make the incredible event come to life!
5:30 p.m.
Registration began right on time, and attendees were given a name tag, event program and a Temple PRSSA swag bag at the table. During this time, Temple PRSSA also collected new, unwrapped toys for Toys for Tots as philanthropy for the special event.
6:05 p.m.
The guests had officially arrived, and it was time for Chair of the Department of Advertising and Public Relations Dana Saewitz to introduce the Temple PRSSA 50th Anniversary Gala. Dana went into detail about the fifty-year-old chapter, and congratulated current members, faculty and alumni on all of their hard work and dedication to the program.
6:15 p.m.
The first speaker to take center stage was Professor and Senior Associate Dean Deborah A. Cai, who was hilariously on-point when reciting the history of the chapter and her experience with Temple PRSSA. Did you know that Temple PRSSA has only had three faculty advisors since it came to fruition in 1969? Professor Cai was very knowledgeable and succinct in her speech and even gave Professor and Temple PRSSA/PRowl Public Relations Faculty Advisor Gregg Feistman a hard time, which sent everyone into hysterics!
6:24 p.m.
The second speaker to take the stage was Dean of the Klein College of Media and Communication David Boardman. Dean Boardman stressed how proud he was of Temple PRSSA’s accomplishments, and he even went on to joke that coming from a journalism background, he did not always have the most positive perception of public relations professionals. Dean Boardman received a roaring round of applause from students, faculty and alumni.
6:40 p.m.
It’s dinner time! At approximately 6:40 p.m., attendees were called by table number to walk over to the buffet table. The event was catered by Cherry and White Catering, and featured an italian, buffet-style dinner. The Temple PRSSA 50th Anniversary Gala also had a white cake provided by Tiffany’s Bakery. During dinner, attendees got up and took pictures to remember the celebration for years to come.
7:45 p.m.
Temple PRSSA President Emma McClain made her way up to the podium to give a speech on her experience in the chapter. Emma emphasized that even if everything were to go wrong with the 50th Anniversary Gala (luckily it was a raging success!), it would not take away all of the hard work and accomplishments we have completed as a chapter. Cheers!
7:55 p.m.
Right after Emma’s speech, attendees enjoyed a slideshow with Temple PRSSA pictures dating back from 1969 all the way to 2019. It was an incredibly emotional moment to see all of the current members and members who came before us displayed on the projector. Here’s to 50 more years!
8:00 p.m.
For the last half hour of the Temple PRSSA 50th Anniversary Gala, attendees had time to take pictures, network and reflect on the wonderful past 50 years of the chapter. It was the perfect way to end the night!
This blog post was written by Dylan Manderbach, Director of Public Relations.