School of Media News

WKU senior Angela Petkovic, a public relations major from Bowling Green, has been named the Guthrie/Mayes Public Relations Student of the Year.

Petkovic was selected from a pool of applicants submitted to the Louisville public relations firm by department heads at colleges and universities throughout Kentucky and southern Indiana. Petkovic and three other semifinalists were asked to submit additional written background and to produce a one-minute video to explain the strengths they bring to the public relations profession. Three finalists were selected for a series of writing exercises and interviews by Guthrie/Mayes staff. 

As the winning student, Petkovic will receive a paid ($3,000) eight-week summer internship at Guthrie/Mayes, where she will gain experience with media outreach, participation in client meetings and planning sessions, on-site support for client events and other PR work. Past Guthrie/Mayes interns have gone on to successful careers in PR-related fields and some have returned to Guthrie/Mayes for permanent employment.

Dan Hartlage, a Guthrie/Mayes principal, said he was impressed with the quality of PR Student of the Year nominations. “Throughout the selection process, Angela displayed exceptional writing skills and the ability to think strategically. That is what this industry needs, and we are looking forward to her joining us for the summer,” he said.

Petkovic serves as the Public Relations Student Society of America Kelly Thompson chapter president. This spring, Petkovic was inducted into Kappa Tau Alpha, an honor society for students in all School of Journalism and Broadcasting majors.

Founded in 1977, Guthrie/Mayes is one of Kentucky’s largest independent public relations firms. It is based in Louisville, with an office in Lexington. For more information on Guthrie/Mayes, contact Dan Hartlage at (502) 625-1644.

For more information on the WKU School of Journalism & Broadcasting and the Public Relations major, contact the School at (270) 745-4144.