Cove Carlson and Jaime Gonzalez-Aguirre, recent graduates of the Reynolds School of Journalism, have acquired the coveted PRSSA Certificate in Principles of Public Relations.  

The Certificate in Principles of Public Relations (CPPR) is awarded by the Universal Accreditation Board of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) as an entry-level certificate that distinguishes graduates as exceptional professionals with advanced skills in Public Relations.  

“The rigorous examination covers several elements of public relations including research, planning, implementation, evaluation, communications theory, ethics, and more,” Journalism Professor Alison Gaulden, APR, Fellow PRSA said. “Jaime and Cove are the 16th and 17th  students, respectively, who have achieved the certification from the Reynolds School.”  

A proud first-gen student, Gonzalez-Aguirre graduated in the spring of 2023, with dual majors in marketing and journalism with an emphasis in public relations. Gonzalez-Aguirre spent the summer participating in the Cordillera International Film Festival as well as several other indie film projects as production manager. With his recent accomplishments, he is passionately seeking a career in the PR industry with experience under his belt in event management and content creation.  

Carlson also completed his degree in the spring of 2023, with a major in journalism with an emphasis on public relations. Carlson was a part of the Reynolds School’s Bateman Competition team, a highlight of his time at the school. He was elected to the PRSSA’s executive board, where he served as the VP of programming. In addition to these accomplishments, Carlson was named the Reynolds School of Journalism 2022-2023 Outstanding Student in Public Relations his senior year.  

Students must be within six months of graduation to qualify for the CPPR Certificate Examination. In addition, those pursuing an undergraduate or master’s degree must major in public relations or a related area of study from an accredited college, be a member of the Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA), and complete a campus-based certificate preparatory course.