Names: Chelsea Lomartire, Heather Lowe
Classifications: Sophomore, Senior
Hometowns: Dover, NH, Gatlinburg, TN
What is the Bateman Team?
H: The Bateman Team is a group of 3-5 Public Relations students who participate in a month-long publicity campaign and competition for a selected nonprofit each year. We plan the campaign in the fall semester, and implement in the spring. The Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) is over the competition, and in early April we’ll draft a book reviewing our campaign to send off to them for judging.
What does a position on the Bateman Team typically involve?
C: As a Bateman Team member, you get the amazing opportunity to create a full public relations campaign for a non-profit organization. You get to collaborate with a team of dedicated public relations students in all aspects of the planning and implementation process.
Who is With Purpose?
C: With Purpose was founded in 2013 after Sam, Erin Benson’s two-year-old son, was diagnosed with fatal brain cancer. Through Sam’s illness, the founders came to realize the extreme lack of treatment options for childhood cancer patients, and decided to take action. Today, With Purpose has become a youth-led movement dedicated to creating a world where kids with cancer have access to safe and effective treatment.
Why did you choose With Purpose to partner with?
C: We were given this client through the competition. We are so excited to be working with such an amazing organization in their mission to become a youth-led movement dedicated to creating a world where kids with cancer have access to safe and effective treatment.
How can Belmont students help support this cause?
re are several ways students can get involved! First, check us out on Instagram and Facebook. We’re called “Belmont With Purpose” on both accounts. Second, head to our website and take a few seconds to sign our petition for allocating greater funds toward childhood cancer research. It takes 30 seconds, and you can find the link on our socials! We’re also asking everyone to take photos and use the hashtag #BUwithpurpose to help support our cause!
Why did you join the Bateman team?
C: I joined the Bateman team to take the skills that I learned in the classroom and apply them to a nationwide public relations campaign competition. I wanted to play a role in developing a campaign that would help an amazing cause as well as challenge me to think creatively.
H: I joined Bateman for the chance to apply all that I’ve learned so far in PR classes and internships to a full-fledged public relations campaign. Getting that real experience, starting from the ground up, was really appealing and seemed like a super valuable task to take on. And I’m happy I did!
What’s your favorite part about being on the Bateman Team?
C: Working with my amazing teammates and watching the campaign ideas turn into reality.
H: The whole team is awesome! They’re all wonderful people with individual skills and talents that really bring us together and make our campaign great.
What’s the coolest thing you’ve done on the Bateman team?
C: Being able to watch ideas come to fruition and see the impact that are campaign is making is extremely rewarding.
H: Getting a Day of Recognition from the State of Tennessee on February 26th was pretty amazing. It’s a day devoted to youth empowerment, and I hope that it’s something that can be carried on after our campaign.
Is the Bateman Team open to all Belmont students?
H: Anyone who is a Public Relations major and a member of the Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) can apply to be on the Bateman Team.
Any upcoming events?
H: We’re encouraging people to spread the word during spring break! If you get one of our With Purpose buttons (or even if you don’t!) we’re encouraging people to share their travels with the hashtag #BUwithpurpose. We would love to feature some awesome students on our socials!
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