Bateman public relations team heads to national finals
Martin Quintero (left), mass communication senior, Kenneth Motley (middle), mass communication senior, and Katie Collier (right), mass communication senior, rehearse their presentation on April 29 for the Bateman Finals. Loyola’s Bateman team will be one of three schools presenting at the finals in Chicago on May 7.
May 1, 2015
Loyola’s Bateman team has had a long history of success, and this year’s team is no different with their placement in the national finals.
The Bateman team has been in the top three of Public Relations Student Society of America’s Bateman Case Study Competition for 13 of the past 14 years, and they have won more than any university in the country.
Their latest campaign, “Geaux Home,” was put together by the team in partnership with the Home Matters Movement to promote the importance of having a home.
The Bateman team convinced Mayor Mitch Landrieu to declare Feb. 24 “Home Matters” Day. They also hosted events like the Geaux Sleepover, where students could learn what it’s like to live without a home for a night.
NiRey Reynolds, Bateman team member and mass communication senior, said that they had to beat out countless competitors to make it to the top three.
“I am so proud of all of us for making it to this point because it was truly a team effort,” Reynolds said.
The Bateman team’s competitors in the finals are the University of Florida and the University of South Carolina.
Cathy Rogers, Bateman team adviser, said that Loyola’s team has a chance of winning even though the other schools are bigger.
“You can measure your success based on your objectives that were based on research, and that’s the reason we’ve always been in the top three, and often been in first place, because they do a really good job of that,” Rogers said.
Rogers said that preparing for the competition involves a lot of practice, and that the team puts in many hours while also dealing with the pressure of finals.
“While it’s so exciting to be in the top three, it’s a lot of work,” Rogers said.
The competition will be in Chicago, and Rogers said she is excited for any outcome.
“I’m going to be very happy regardless of the place they achieve because I know that it’s been a really meaningful campaign in New Orleans, and I think they’ve done their best,” Rogers said.
Kenneth Motley, Bateman team member and mass communication senior, said that he will be proud of his journey with the Bateman team regardless of what happens in Chicago.
“Our hard work reflects our success. I am very proud of the team,” Motley said.
