For six lucky BGSU Public Relations students, the White House came calling for them over Fall Break. Members of the Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) attended the national PRSSA convention in Washington, DC Oct 9-10, but also made a pretty key stop while in town.
The students were guests of Jackie Calmes, NY Times White House correspondent, and a BGSU Currier Speaker back in April. When the PRSSA National Conference was announced with the Washington, D.C. location, PRSSA Faculty Advisor, Julie Hagenbuch, reached out to Calmes to see if they could take a White House Press Room Tour.
“We had it all arranged in the Spring to go on the tour, but then the security breach occurred with the man jumping over the fence. It didn’t look like we’d be able to visit the White House at all,” she said.
The day before the trip, Calmes called with good news. Not only were they invited and cleared for the tour, they were offered an added bonus: To watch the president take off in Marine One on the South Lawn with the Press Corps.
On Thursday, October 9 students Stevon Duey, Kristen Tomins, Anna Crabill, Becca Barth, Lucas Stall, Alexis Martinez and their Faculty Advisor Julie Hagenbuch watched and waved to POTUS as he walked across the lawn to the waiting Marine One.
While on the tour, they were a part of the press briefing and networked with Today Show White House correspondent Kristen Welker in the “swamp” or the area where each network does live shots on the White House grounds.
“This trip was truly life changing! An opportunity that rarely comes along. I’m so glad I was able to go with PRSSA and hope that future members get to take part in the same activities,” shared Lucas Stall, PRSSA President.
The trip was paid for through the Student Budget Committee, part of the Office of Campus Activities.
