(left to right) : Jessica Casey, Mya Hyman and Noelle Smith, students in the fall 2015 Public Relations Techniques class, won $3,000 from Biotest Plasma in Conway in the mini public relations plan competition. The students developed a plan to help Biotest encourage more college students and community members to donate plasma.
By Sarah Kinder
University Relations and Creative Services Office
University of Central Arkansas students won a competition to develop a new marketing campaign for Biotest Pharmaceuticals Corporation.
Jessica Casey (Lamar, Arkansas), Mya Hyman (Little Rock, Arkansas) and Noelle Smith (Little Rock, Arkansas) from the team “Check Your Vitals” won the competition by developing a plan to help Biotest encourage more college students and community members to donate plasma.
“I am so thankful for this opportunity provided by UCA and Biotest Plasma,” said Smith. “I learned skills guaranteed to help me succeed in my future endeavors, and I am so excited for Biotest Plasma to grow and reach many more donors.”
The team gave a 5- to 15-minute presentation showcasing their developed goals, objectives, strategies and tactics for Biotest by using print/broadcast media, social/digital media and non-media.
A total of 25 students from two sections of Public Relations Techniques classes competed for the grand prize of $3,000, which was announced on Dec. 3, 2015.
“I was truly honored and impressed by all the teams with their wonderful ideas and hard work they put into each project,” said Jenny Timperley, manager of Biotest Pharmaceuticals in Conway.
Biotest plans to implement parts of various plans pitched by the UCA students to help market their image and services through social media and other means to recruit healthy people as donors while promoting healthy lifestyles.
“This Case Study provided an excellent opportunity for our students to display innovative and well thought out ideas,” said Dr. Kathy Clayborn, director of Career Services at UCA. “It allowed our students to gain real-world experience and more of the beyond-the-classroom skills today’s employers are seeking.”
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