Loyola’s Bateman Team won first place in the nation last week for its public relations campaign about Nutella chocolate spread.

Liz Bearce, Laura Burris, Uyen Phan, Katie Sharp, Katherine Staiano and Bateman adviser Cathy Rogers flew to New Jersey to represent Loyola’s chapter of the Public Relations Student Society of America and came back national PRSSA Bateman champions.

The University of Florida and the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York were the competitors in the final competition.

“Both teams had really great ideas,” Rogers said. “We were honored to be competing with these teams, especially the University of Florida.” The University of Florida’s Bateman team has a similar track record as that of the Loyola team.

The 2003 championship is the third one for Loyola’s Bateman team. Loyola tied for first in 1997, and also won nationals in 2000. This is the third consecutive year Loyola’s team placed in the top three.

“The brand manager of Ferrero (the manufacturers of Nutella) was very impressed with the way the team spoke directly to them and its understanding of the company,” Rogers said. “The Loyola team really capitalized on the Italian flare of Nutella.”

The final presentation was a 30-minute PowerPoint slide show. The team members gave scripted but personable speeches and wore chefs hats and aprons smudged with Nutella.

“We had a very solid presentation,” Sharp said.

“It had a theme, but we made room for jokes and added some New Orleans zeal.”

Loyola’s Bateman team also produced measurable results. An increase in product awareness and a 100 percent increase in area Nutella sales were among many strong points in the final presentation.

Every year, PRSSA students are invited to apply for the Bateman team, but only five can be chosen.

Students are interviewed and receive three hours of school credit for participating in Bateman, but the workload is heavy.

“You have to have a passion for public relations,” Phan said. “Also, you have to be willing to push yourself to the next level.”