Rogers State University has again left its mark at the annual Oklahoma Speech, Theater and Communication Association Convention (OSTCA). Eleven students and seven faculty members attended the Sept. 10 meeting in Oklahoma City. Those involved presented papers, posters and workshop exhibitions.
A public relations competition was held at the convention with students from attending universities arranged into competing teams. They met with their client – Big Truck Tacos – to discuss the company and its challenges. The students then had one hour to develop and prepare a seven-minute presentation for a three-judge panel, which included two owners of Big Truck Tacos and an independent judge.
The first place team included two students from RSU: Anthony Tucker of Bartlesville and Rachelle Arjay of Broken Arrow. Tucker and Arjay major in business and communication, respectively.
The third place team included one RSU student, communication major Yamile Legarreta of Claremore.
“OSTCA surprised me,” explained Arjay, a senior. “I knew I was going there to learn new things, but I never expected to have as much fun as I did. It was a great opportunity to meet and work with new people. Being a part of the PR competition was exciting and rewarding.”
Big Truck Tacos was so impressed with the student presentations and creative ideas the company announced it would bring its mobile truck to visit the campuses of the winning team’s members (Rogers State University and Pittsburgh State). The students from those schools will work with the company to get approvals, permits, licenses, and to promote the event. The public relations programs from those two schools will then receive 30 percent of proceeds of that day’s sales.
During the convention, Greg Thompson, head of the RSU Department of English and Humanities, was elected to the office of vice president-elect. He will rise to the office of president in 2013-14.
“I am honored to have been elected,” said Thompson, “I look forward to working with the current members of the association as well as bringing additional members and ideas to the table. OSTCA has a long and proud history in Oklahoma and I pleased to be a part of that legacy and look forward to the future.”