Biola University

Alumna public relations major Samantha Sands ('19) won Orange County Public Relations Society of America's (OCPRSA) Shining Star "Emerging Leaders" award for 2019, the highest honor a student can receive from the organization. Sands, who served as chapter president for Biola's Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) chapter last year, was excited to learn she received this year's award. "I am thankful for the opportunities that our PRSSA chapter has to be recognized, and I honestly never imagined it would be me," said Sands. "I love supporting my team and helping them grow into driven professionals, but it is such an honor to receive this award, and it holds a lot of value to me." Sands was presented the award at Biola's annual PRSSA student banquet held on April 29, 2019 at Biola. The award is OCPRSA's highest honor for a graduating senior, recognizing outstanding service, commitment, and leadership within their PRSSA chapter and local community. Through a competitive application process, one senior is selected to receive the award by OCPRSA from each of the four PRSSA chapters in Orange County: Biola University, California State University Fullerton, California State University Long Beach and Chapman University.

150 top students from 50 universities around the nation including 17 students from Biola attended a one-week intensive course on the integration of theology, culture, and entrepreneurship located on Biola's campus.