DeRossette recipient of William E. “Bud” Kirkpatrick Scholarship
Mon, 03/25/2024 - 04:11pm | By: David Tisdale
USM Professor of Public Relations Dr. Jae-Hwa Shin, left, with her student Ann Wallace DeRossette of Vicksburg, Miss. at the Pine Belt Chapter of PRAM’s Spark Award Ceremony, where DeRossette received the William E. “Bud” Kirkpatrick Scholarship.
Ann Wallace DeRossette, a University of Southern Mississippi (USM) senior, was awarded the Pine Belt Chapter of PRAM’s (Public Relations Association of Mississippi) William E. "Bud" Kirkpatrick Student Scholarship, named for the longtime director of USM’s then Office of Public Relations, at the organization’s Spark Awards Ceremony.
"What an honor it is to receive the Kirkpatrick Student Scholarship from PRAM,” said DeRossette, a native of Vicksburg, Miss. majoring in public relations and marketing and minoring in social media content and strategy. She plans to graduate from USM in May before pursuing a master’s degree at the school in fall 2024. “I also enjoyed getting to hear about (at the Spark Awards program) the amazing projects PR Professionals in the Pine Belt area are working on that make me so eager to join the workforce."
At USM, DeRossette has served as an Admissions Ambassador since 2021 and as a Southern Style Orientation Leader. She participated in the Luckday Leadership Program in London and took on campus leadership roles as vice president of Communication for Eagle Connection Tour Guides and as vice president of community relations for Tri Delta Phi Epsilon. She was chosen as Student Body Maid for the Southern Miss Homecoming Court and as College Panhellenic Council Member of the Month. She attained hands-on experience in preparation for a career in her field as a marketing intern for the Hattiesburg Convention Commission.
“Ann is a dedicated, talented, and motivated individual who excels in both academic and extracurricular pursuits,” said her faculty mentor, Dr. Jae-Hwa Shin. “I’m confident she will continue to thrive and make significant contributions wherever her career path leads her.”
USM’s Public Relations program is offered through the School of Media and Communication in the College of Arts and Sciences. Learn more about the program.