Scholarships for Emerging Professionals

Peter J. Cronk Memorial Scholarship

Scholarship Overview:
The Finger Lakes Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) has established a scholarship to honor its late board member, Peter J. Cronk. A former partner of the Riger Advertising Agency in Binghamton, Peter was a longtime membership chair and active member of the PRSA Finger Lakes Board.

Since Peter believed strongly in PRSA and working with new professionals in the public relations field, the Finger Lakes Chapter has decided to award a scholarship each year that will pay for the membership of a new associate member of PRSA.

The scholarship will cover the associate membership dues of a professional who has either graduated within the past two years or who has up to three years of experience in public relations. To qualify, the professional must be working in the public relations field in the Finger Lakes region.

The scholarship recipient will be invited to attend meetings of the PRSA Finger Lakes Chapter Board during the one-year term of the scholarship. The professional would also actively participate in PRSA Finger Lakes Chapter programs during the year he or she receives the scholarship.

 The current treasurer of PRSA Finger Lakes Chapter will work with the scholarship recipient to pay for his or her associate membership directly. Scholarships will be awarded immediately after the recipient is selected each year.


Selection Guidelines:
A selection committee comprised of members of PRSA Finger Lakes will use the following guidelines to evaluate the Peter J. Cronk Memorial Scholarship applications and select the recipient.

Guidelines in order of priority:

1.       Professional experience in the public relations field

2.       Interest in joining PRSA Finger Lakes and volunteering for the chapter

3.       Overall professionalism and experience, based on references contacted for recommendations

4.       Prior participation in a PRSSA chapter or other communications group