The Bateman Case Study Competition is the Public Relations Student Society of America’s premier national case study competition for public relations students. It provides an opportunity for students to apply lessons learned from both inside the classroom and through internships or work opportunities to create and implement a full public relations campaign for a real client. Every year PRSSA choses a brand or cause to sponsor the competition.
The 2024 USC Bateman Team exceeds goals
This school year, five students have been working since the fall to create a conversation about inclusion on the University of South Carolina’s campus. The USC Bateman Team has developed and implemented a plan to promote Culturs, a global multicultural lifestyle network that provides representation to members of the “cultural in-between.” It can be hard for third culture kids, cross culture kids, global nomads, expats, refugees, military kids and diplomatic kids to find a sense of belonging and community. The team’s objective this year was to ensure that members of these communities felt seen, heard and represented here at USC and in the Columbia community.
To increase awareness of Culturs and foster a more inclusive environment, the Bateman Team created @culturscola on Instagram. This account engages with the community and shares relevant stories that highlight the unique perspectives of culturally fluid people. Additionally, the team organized the community’s first ever Culturs Day on February 27. They hosted a tabling event on Greene Street and a keynote session where CIC assistant professor Candice Edrington shared the importance of representation and being able to see yourself in communities.
Lexington, Kentucky, native Charlotte Boyd attended the event and knows the feeling of being in-between cultures. Boyd’s family lived in Canberra, Australia, while she was growing up and this shaped much of who she is today.
“We feel pressure to fit in just one culture,” Boyd says. “But that is just not how the world works in this day and age. People belong in many different places and that is what makes us so special.” As a Third-Culture-Kid, Boyd was moved by Edrington’s keynote and was inspired by the Culturs mission.
Hearing from students like Charlotte Boyd and gathering incredible metrics helped the Bateman Team see the value of this campaign. Their work elevated stories that makes Columbia a more inclusive and vibrant community.
Senior PR student Grace Shields has been working on the campaign. Shields says “seeing this campaign grow from our original ideas to a full scale event is truly inspiring.” Her time on the Bateman Team has helped her see the impact that public relations can make. This experience excites Shields for a career in this industry.
Although the campaign competition is coming to an end, the team is proud to continue the work to spread representation because with Culturs, everyone should feel like they belong.