By. Cindy Martinez
On Feb 25, Georgia Power made a generous $25,000 to the University of West Georgia’s (UWG) student-run public relations firm, bluestone. This significant contribution comes as part of the company’s ongoing commitment to support education, community development and growth for future PR and communication leaders and innovators.
Jacob Hawkins, Director of Communications at Georgia Power, a 2006 UWG Graduate with a degree in Mass Communications, presented the donation along with two other Georgia Power representatives VP of corporate communications Fredie Carmichael and communication specialist Mattew Kent. Hawkins, who will be celebrating his 20th year with Georgia Power at the end of this year, emphasized how meaningful it is to support the university which played a crucial role in his career development.
“When I came into the university here, honestly it was my backup school,’’ said Hawkins. “What I found in Dr.Yates and in this university is care and connection and that there were people who wanted to help and make you feel more than a number. You get to make this education what you want it to be.’’
Hawkins also highlighted that, when it came to allocate the funds for Georgia Power’s budget, UWG and bluestone were at the top of the list. The company’s representatives expressed a strong commitment to giving back to the community, especially to an intuition that continues to foster talent and create opportunities from experiential learning labs like bluestone to develop in their fields.
The bluestone firm, which is entirely student-run,provides real-world experience to students majoring in public relations, communication and marketing. This donation will directly impact the firm’s ability to continue offering hands-on learning opportunities, helping students gain valuable skills while assisting local clients with their marketing and public relation needs.
Dr. Hazel Cole, a co-founder of bluestone, emphasized on how this donation will help strengthen the firm’s capabilities and provide student with even more opportunities to excel in the competitive world of public relations.With this support, bluestone will be able to expand it reach, take on more projects and offer more diverse learning experience for students.
“I am one of the co-founders of bluestone,’’ said Cole. “I want to begin by saying thank you all for being here today. It’s a pleasure to have Georgia Power visit our lovely campus and support us with financial dollars. When Jacob called me back in December with the good news that Georgia Power wanted to give to our PR program and our school it was quite…shocking. He almost sent me into cardiac arrest.’’
The partnership between Georgia Power and UWG exemplifies the power of corporate support in shaping the next generation of communication professionals. With a longstanding history of collaboration between the two entities, this donation is a reflection of Georgia Power’s dedication to education and its belief in the value of empowering young talent.
As bluestone continues to grow, both in size and reputation, the donation from Georgia Power will play a crucial role in shaping the future of the student-run PR firm. The impact of this contribution of $25,000 but also being a premier sponsor for the 43rd annual media day will be felt not only by the students involved but also the community as they continue to engage with bluestones services.