PRJ - Ray Simon Institute

RAY SIMON INSTITUTE

About the Institute

Named for the former head of the Utica College public relations degree program, The Raymond Simon Institute for Public Relations was founded in 1986 with the purpose of enhancing UC's public relations and journalism programs. To achieve this purpose, the institute:

• Honors the outstanding public relations/journalism alumnus or alumna
• Grants the Ben and Gene Comora Scholarship, the John Behrens Journalism Scholarship, and the Raymond Simon Scholarship
• Provides monetary support for faculty projects and student activities through the Bob '78 and Ellen Feldman Fund
• Underwrites the cost of the Eleanor Sokolow/RSI Professional in Residence (PIR) program, which brings outstanding professionals in public relations and journalism to campus for several days

Funding for the PIR program was made possible by a grant from Owen Comora '53 and his wife, Betty, and is named after her late mother. Each year, the RSI also presents:

• The George E. Jones '60 Outstanding PRJ Student awards to students in each of the four classes
• The Owen Comora '53 Tangerine award to the most valuable staff member of the college newspaper
• The Fred and Corinne Grates/RSI Achievement Award
• The Flaherty Creativity Award
• The David D'Alessandro '72 summer internship awards, granted to help cover the expenses of student internships

Each of these annual scholarships and cash awards, made possible through generous contributions from PRJ alumni, are granted to encourage excellence on the part of students in the public relations/journalism program. Selection of the awardees is made by the PRJ faculty and the executive director of the RSI.