Friday, Sept. 15, Waynesburg’s chapter of Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) hosted the first student speak of the year on the subject of professionalism.  Topics in previous years covered more controversial subjects such as human trafficking.

Senior Maura Fenske, president of Waynesburg’s chapter of PRSSA wanted to inform students on how they can be professionals early in their careers.

Fenske’s goal for the event was to present students with useful ways on how they can be proactive in their professional workforce.

Fenske, who has always wanted to lead a student speak, was excited for the opportunity by being able to lead the first student speak of the year.

“This is the first student speak of the year so it’s exciting we are presenting,” said Fenske. “It’s never too early to start developing those skills.”

Last semester, Pat Bristor, associate dean of students, reached out to all the clubs to see who would be interested in hosting a student speak Fenske turned to junior Amanda Troncone, vice president of PRSSA, who along with Fenske thought it would be a great idea.

“Amanda and I decided to because number one, it’s great to get our name out there and two, we can use it as a recruiting opportunity, so we decided to do it early,” said Fenske.

Troncone covered at the presentation how students can be professional.

Troncone told students what professionalism means and how they can incorporate that now as college students into our daily lives. She also covered how to be professional on social media, in emails, on resumes and in interviews.

Troncone also went on to talk about a personal experience of hers where she was caught being a professional and how to set the standard of being a professional.

“I had a business card that was very well done and we went to Pittsburgh for what we call professional development day,” said Troncone. “They passed my business card along like in the front where everyone who was speaking they had a couple panels and they were complementing it.”

There have also been times when even a professional, like Fenske, has also made a mistake and been unprofessional.

“I think anybody as a college student has had us oh yikes moments many times,” said Fenske. “I emailed the wrong professor once as a freshman about a class I was missing and he said ‘no problem, I don’t teach that class’ and that was definitely embarrassing but it makes you learn.”

Fenske also credited the university as the reason she was able to land an internship; simply because the university and PRSSA chapter had such prominence and professionalism.

Students participated in an activity after the presentation they were able to create a dialog between the presenter and those in the room. Although currently undecided, Fenske and PRSSA are looking forward to hosting similar events in the future.