The Fall 2015 Ebeling PR-ize Luncheon

12/10/2015 1:00 PM

A team of Bradley University public relations students, are awarded the Fall 2015 Ebeling PR-ize™ for the top senior public relations campaign completed this semester. The award was presented at a luncheon on Thursday, December 10 at Weaver Ridge Clubhouse.

Student agency, AuderePR, launched the “Shape Your City” campaign to take an important, yet sensitive issue that is usually hidden behind closed doors and bring it into the light. This campaign aimed to increase the awareness about the significantly high sexually transmitted infection (STI) rates throughout the city of Peoria.

AuderePR is comprised of Caleb Aeschliman (Peoria), Rasheed Habler (Des Plaines, IL) and Brandon Johnson (Montgonery, IL). Students said they chose this topic because there is a need for feasible, evidence-based interventions that support STI risk reductions among the African-American community in Peoria. They site the 2015 Peoria County Health Report saying “In 2013, the rate of Chlamydia in Peoria County was 1.7 times greater than the United States. In specific zip codes up to 4.9 times greater. The rate of Gonorrhea in Peoria County was 2.7 times greater than the United States; with specific zip codes up to 10.7 times greater.” 

The Ebeling PR-ize™ was conceived by Bradley alumnus Chuck Ebeling and faculty member Dr. Ron Koperski in 2004, and is a competitive program among Bradley’s senior public relations students in their capstone course. Students form “agency” teams and are responsible for planning and implementing a real, coordinated public relations campaign on behalf of a local business and a compatible community service organization. Campaign submissions and judging criteria are based on the nationally recognized Silver Anvil Award competition administered by the Public Relations Society of America. 

Ebeling served as a public affairs officer in the Army and later held public relations positions with several major agencies and national corporations before joining McDonald’s Corporation, where he rose to the position of chief spokesman and vice president of corporate communications. A 1966 graduate of Bradley, he was inducted into the University’s Centurion Society in October in recognition of his achievements in business, public life, and his profession.