Scholarships & Awards
CUPRAP makes three awards annually:  the Communications Internship Award for Students of Color, a scholarship; the Ciervo Award for support and advancement of higher education, and the Don Hale Award for service to CUPRAP.

Communications Internship Award for Students of Color 

Recognizing the need to attract more persons of color to communications professions, the College and University Public Relations Association of Pennsylvania (CUPRAP) sponsors the Communications Internship Award for Students of Color. This program is intended to make it financially easier for students of color to obtain valuable internship experience in a communications field. The internship program is open to all students of color attending an accredited college or university having membership representation in CUPRAP. Selection of a recipient is based upon an applicant's academic ability, communication skills and creativity as demonstrated through work samples and financial need. The successful applicant will receive a $1,500 stipend following confirmation of employment in an internship position.
Download an award application (PDF file)

2009 Winner:  Abigail Camilo, Reading Area Community College, photo above right, with Terry Day, left, of Mansfield University, incoming CUPRAP president and chair of the Awards Committee, and Barbara Marshall, now immediate past president.

Past Recipients

Arthur V. Ciervo Award

Awarded to a public relations professional, president, higher education advocate, public official, or outstanding faculty or staff member who exemplifies CUPRAP's fundamental purposes of supporting and advancing the understanding of higher education. The award is named in honor of Arthur V. Ciervo, founder and first president of CUPRAP.

2009 Recipient:  Tom A. Tenges, Executive Director, Lehigh Valley Association of Independent Colleges

Past Recipients

Don Hale Award

Awarded annually to a CUPRAP member who has significantly contributed to the organization. The award is named in honor of Don Hale, CUPRAP's second president, and for 20 years thereafter, editor of its newsletter.

2009 Recipient:  Sally Widman, Ursinus College

Past Recipients

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Communications Award for Students of Color  

2009
Abigail Camilo, Reading Area Community College

2008
Kaitlyn Zerbe, Muhlenberg College

2007
Carlton Homes, Wilkes University

2006
Cassondra Lampkin, Susquehanna University

2005
Tara Burnham, Penn State University
Tara Burnham, CUPRAP's 2005 Internship Award Recipient, Earns National Honor as PRWeek's PR Student of the Year

2004
Shelley-Anne Vidal, Delaware County Community College

2003
Nafiysa Robinson, Seton Hill University

2002
Karen Santiago, Penn State University

2001
Chamithra Perera, Penn State University

2000
Susie Xu, Penn State University

1999
Tutaleni Asino, Duquesne University

1998
Sean Baylor, Cheyney University of Pennsylvania

1997
Andrea Johnson, Swarthmore College

1996
Amanda Winkey, Cheyney University of Pennsylvania

1995
Willia Byrd, Kutztown University of Pennsylvania

1994
Christine Maldinado, Penn State University
Jennifer Schecter-Lapchak, Kutztown University of Pennsylvania

1993
Karen Miller, Temple University
Ricardo Zapata, Penn State University

1992
George Charles, Kutztown University of Pennsylvania

1991
Scott M. Pitts, Indiana University of Pennsylvania

1990
Tami Rose Bryan, Villanova University

1989
Pamela O'Berry, Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania

1988
Tanya Renee Kennedy, Penn State University

1987
William John Rodgers, California University of Pennsylvania

1986
Christine Ann Patterson, Wilkes College

1985
Susan M. Pentrack, University of Pittsburgh
Sherrill M. Shepard, Community College of Philadelphia

1984
Michael Jones, Mansfield University of Pennsylvania
Verena Thurman, University of Pittsburgh

1983
Irma Epps, Community College of Philadelphia
Gwendolyn Lee, Rosemont College

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Ciervo Award

2009
Tom A. Tenges, Executive Director, Lehigh Valley Association of Independent Colleges 
 
2008
Don L. Francis, president of the Association of Independent Colleges and Universities of Pennsylvania (AICUP)   

2007
Sean OKeefe, chancellor of Louisiana State University
   
2006
Mark S. Schweiker, 44th governor of Pennsylvania; president and CEO of the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce.
 
2005
Roland King, Vice President for Public Affairs of the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities, Wasington, D.C.
 
2004
Terry W. Hartle, Senior Vice President and Director of Government and Public Affairs, American Council on Education  

2003
Sally Stroup, Assistant Secretary of Postsecondary Education, U.S. Department of Education   

2002
Elnetta Jones, Shippensburg University

2001
Mary Ann Eisenreich, Pennsylvania Women Work   

2000
Bill Goodling, U.S. Congressman, 19th District, Pennsylvania 
 
1999
James H. McCormick, Chancellor, State System of Higher Education   

1998
Not awarded 
 
1997
John Kirkpatrick, Publisher and Editor, Harrisburg Patriot-News 
 
1996
Richard P. Richter, President Emeritus, Ursinus College 
 
1995
Roger Williams, Associate Vice President for Communications, Georgetown University 
 
1994
Kenneth R. Reeher, President, CEO (retired), Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency 
 
1993
Gary B. Young, President, Pennsylvania Association of Colleges and Universities 
 
1992
Nicholas Colafella, Chair, House Subcommittee on Higher Education, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania 
 
1991
Harris Wofford, Pennsylvania Secretary of Labor & Industry 
 
1990
Thomas J. Moran, Luzerne County Community College 
 
1989
James Gallagher, Philadelphia College of Textiles & Science 
 
1988
Don Hale, Carnegie Mellon University 
 
1987
Mary Ann Aug, University of Pittsburgh 
 
1986
James Ream, Pennsylvania Association of Colleges and Universities

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Don 
Don Hale Award

Awarded annually to a CUPRAP member who has significantly contributed to the organization. The award is named in honor of Don Hale, CUPRAP's second president, and for 20 years thereafter, editor of its newsletter.

2009
Sally Widman, Ursinus College

2008
Alan Janesch, Penn State Grassroots Network

2007
Dennis Miller, Mansfield University

2006
Kathy Ettinger, Penn State University
Barbara Meeker, Penn State University

2005
Ray Betzner, Temple University

2004
Marie Moughan, Immaculata University

2003
Sharon Poff, Bucknell University

2002
Ed Blaguszewski, Penn State Erie

2001
Joe Donovan, La Salle University

2000
Pam Sheridan, Haverford College

1999
Joseph Reasy Jr., Penn State Altoona

1998
Debra Thomas, formerly at Bryn Mawr College

1997
Bill Mahon, Penn State University

1996
Joseph Biscontini, Penn State University, Philadelphia region

1995
Art Ciervo, President of Art Ciervo & Associates

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