Ebeling PR-ize Announced

May 15, 2015

A team of Bradley University public relations students, has been awarded the Spring 2015 Ebeling PR-ize™ for the top senior public relations campaign completed this semester.

The project, called The Autism Appetite, was created by Talia Crackel (East Peoria, IL), Samantha Andrews (St Paul, MN), Elizabeth Smith (Libertyville, IL) and Rickey Hendon (Chicago, IL).

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.

This team created The Autism Appetite, to raise awareness of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). One in 68 children has ASD and because many children with ASD are extremely picky, it can be difficult for families to create meals that are healthy for their children, and meals that their children are willing to consume.

On World Autism Day, April 2nd, 2015, Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner cut funding for ASD programs. For those reasons, this team decided to bring Easter Seals (Non-profit) and Hy-Vee (for-profit) together for a campaign to to spread awareness about ASD and help introduce affected families to additional resources.

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.

Samantha Andrews, Rickey Hendon, Chuck Ebeling, Elizabeth "Liz" Smith, Talia Crackel