Why GrandPR is Pumped for Generation Grand
Generation Grand: Experience PR in GR is only a few short days away, and here at GrandPR, we are all buzzing with excitement. A few of our staff members were happy to share some of the reasons that they were anxiously awaiting this weekend, and to encourage you to buy your ticket if you haven't already!
Lauren Staff
Agency tours, networking, hearing about PR in Beer City, nonprofits, and healthcare are just a few of the reasons I can’t wait to attend regional conference! I am currently in the homestretch of graduation (ONLY 4 MORE WEEKS), which makes me even more excited to be at this conference. Being surrounded by creative energy and individuals who have the same PR passion that I do for an entire weekend sounds like the perfect way to get ready for the end of my undergraduate career! I can imagine that at this time in the school year many students are having trouble finding the motivation to go to class, study, attend extracurricular meetings, and to apply for jobs or internships. But I think that the speakers and events lined up for this conference are going to give everyone the motivation they need to finish out this school year. Saturday’s Failure:Lab is one of the sessions I am most excited for! Sure, everyone has probably experienced some kind of failure so far in life, but it can be hard knowing how to take that failure and turn it into something positive. Hearing three stories of failure from three individuals who have now made an impact in the PR field is going to be inspiring, motivating, and what many of us need to understand why failure is important part of life. There are going to be so many more engaging sessions on top of Failure:Lab that no one will want to miss out on. A lot of the topics that are going to be covered are things we don’t regularly talk about in class, so everyone will definitely be walking away with a lot of new knowledge. So make sure you get your ticket now, for a weekend full of students geeking out over PR and probably lots of caffeine!
Adrienne Cooley
Being relatively new to both PR and Grand Rapids, I didn’t at first understand what all the hype was for Generation Grand. I also thought such an event would be too involved for someone so new to PR. However, as I started attending more PRSSA meetings and getting to know some of the amazing students there, my excitement grew. I learned that through Generation Grand, I will have the opportunity to hear from experts about Beer City, nonprofits, green thinking, maintaining a creative community, and other great topics. Not only will it teach me more about public relations, it will be a great networking opportunity and a chance to get fully immersed in the field I am studying. What more could I ask for in my first semester being involved in the Advertising and Public Relations program? A struggle I have had as a first year transfer student at Grand Valley has been finding a sense of community. I am still working in this, so I can’t think of a better way to make connections than to attend this incredible event with my fellow students! Even if you feel like I did at first, like you are too new to benefit from this experience or you don’t know many people who are going, trust me that putting yourself out there and learning more about your field is going to be worth it!
Corinne Laratonda
Generation Grand is a fantastic opportunity for GVSU public relations students this year. As a senior, it is truly an honor to have such an opportunity to learn and network with professionals through this event. It is very obvious that many GrandPR and PRSSA students are extremely excited to attend this event. Between the agency tours, corporate tours, break-out sessions, and mixers; there is no way any PR student should miss this. I am most excited to attend the different break-out sessions, and the mixers to meet professionals in the area. As I step into the professional world in a few months, it is essential that I network with professionals to build my own network. Generation Grand will consist of many important informational sessions on a variety of topics. This opportunity will give students a first-hand look into the business of public relations in its different sectors. Most importantly, it will give students the ability to understand why public relations is so unique in the Grand Rapids area. I hope that students are just as excited as me to attend this event. It is truly going to be amazing.
Cassie McAllister
A few months ago, during a PRSSA meeting, we were told about an event planning committee that was being formed. New to both PRSSA and Public Relations, I jumped on board. I could not wait to dive into this exciting and fast paced PR world. Little did I know, I would hold a piece in planning Generation Grand: Experience PR in GR. Getting a behind the scenes look into this conference has me so excited to actually attend. From finalizing the details on the mixers to planning the panel questions, I cannot wait to finally see all of this work in action. Generation Grand has so much to offer its attendees including some of the best professionals from the Grand Rapids area. I cannot wait to hear all of the valuable insight that these speakers have to offer. I am most looking forward to the discussion on Beer City USA. This is something that is so unique to Grand Rapids and will definitely be my most anticipated session!