Southwest PRSA

2011 APR Scholarship Recipient
Holley Mangham, APR
Oklahoma City Chapter of PRSA 

Testimonial:

Earning my APR has been quite the journey. Never a good test taker, I took the exam in 2007 with less than desirable results. After encouragement from mentors within the Oklahoma City chapter, I chose to once again work toward accreditation in 2010.

The second time around I changed my attitude and focus. I looked at earning my APR as a journey rather than preparation for the exam. I set aside time each week for quality discussion with another professional. We examined each of the KSAs and applied real life scenarios to them. I was able to see real life application of what I was learning. When looking at the material in terms of real life application rather than trying to memorize a plethora of information, everything seemed to fall in place.

Since earning my APR, I see things in a different light. My focus is now on planning and measurable results. I have enjoyed a renewed sense of purpose when it comes to public relations.

This is a blog entry I posted about my experience:   http://tinyurl.com/HolleyAPR

I encourage practitioners to take this leap of faith in themselves and pursue the APR. It has changed the way I see myself and the way I see our profession.

The distinction of the APR is not only good for practitioners but its also good for the field of public relations. I would encourage others to pursue their APR because they have a passion for the profession and want to not only test their ability but also learn about the history of public relations. Attaining my APR has renewed my confidence as a practitioner and allowed me to grow as a professional. For those looking to advance their career, APR is definitely the path to choose.

My personal journey has been one of greater understanding and appreciation. Appreciation to my colleagues for their confidence in my abilities, and a greater understanding through my preparation for the computer based examination. Like all great accomplishments, it did not come overnight and without hard work. That makes the outcome even sweeter.

I encourage each practitioner to seriously consider the journey of professional growth and understanding that only the APR can provide.