Taylor Garner, an advertising and public relations (APR) graduate student, was recently named a finalist for Graduate Student of the Year in the PRNEWS Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and Diversity Awards competition. This award honors a graduate student who has demonstrated outstanding academic performance and interest in the fields of communication and PR.
Garner was nominated for the award by ESPN after serving as a communication intern for the company during Summer and Fall 2020.
“It honestly feels unreal. From the moment ESPN PR told me that they wanted to nominate me for this award up until being announced as a finalist, I haven’t stopped smiling,” Garner said. “I am so grateful to ESPN PR and PRNEWS for this honor and to be among all of the other amazing finalists that are striving to make change in this industry as I am.”
In addition to her internship with ESPN, Garner has gained industry experience through several internships during her time in C&IS. She formerly served as a communication intern for the Capstone College of Nursing and currently works as a student assistant with The University of Alabama Athletics Communications office and as a Sports Brand Solutions Intern at The Walt Disney Company.
After graduation, Garner hopes to become a publicist and would like to continue working in the sports industry. She credits C&IS for preparing her through providing various experiential learning opportunities.
“C&IS has so many opportunities for you to get involved and gain a lot of industry experience. Our professors genuinely care about your success and help in any way that they can to prepare you. From the organizations that I have been part of to the lessons we have learned in class, I feel more ready than I ever have to enter this industry successfully,” Garner said.
View the full list of CSR and Diversity Award finalists here.
PRNEWS will host a virtual awards ceremony on April 27 to honor the finalists in both the CSR & Nonprofit Awards and Inaugural Diversity Awards categories. These finalists represent the communicators who use their platforms for the betterment of their local communities and the global community at large.
