Delaware Valley Regional High School student Kelsey O’Connor receives NJSIAA scholarship sponsored by SCG Advertising + Public Relations
PARSIPPANY, NJ (August 15, 2019)— Delaware Valley Regional High School student Kelsey O’Connor was recently awarded an NJSIAA (New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association) scholarship sponsored by SCG Advertising + Public Relations.
On an annual basis, SCG recognizes a high school senior who demonstrates excellence both on the playing field and in the classroom, with a $500 scholarship award. The award is presented at the annual NJSIAA Scholar Athlete Luncheon.
O’Connor, who played field hockey and lacrosse, will use her scholarship to supplement her educational costs at Duquesne University, where she will study speech pathology.
At the 26th annual Scholar Athlete Luncheon, which was attended by more than 1,400 people, student-athletes were designated by their respective schools to receive scholarships. More than 350 New Jersey high school students were recognized at the luncheon and nearly $200,000 in scholarships was awarded.
A digital photo of NJSIAA Executive Director Larry White (left) and Delaware Valley Regional High School student Kelsey O’Connor is available here.
Established in 1918, the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletics Association (NJSIAA) is a voluntary, non-profit organization comprised of 436 accredited public, private, and parochial high schools. A member of the National Federation of State High School Associations, the NJSIAA conducts tournaments and crowns champions in 32 sports. Championship competition for girls is sponsored in basketball, bowling, cross country, fencing, field hockey, golf, gymnastics, lacrosse, soccer, softball, swimming, tennis, outdoor track, winter track, and volleyball. Boys’ championships are determined in baseball, basketball, bowling, cross country, fencing, football, golf, ice hockey, lacrosse, soccer, swimming, tennis, outdoor track, winter track, volleyball, and wrestling.
Lessons from a week-long experience, featuring the Secretary of Defense, some generals and admirals, and scores of young men and women in uniform
In March, I was selected to participate in the Joint Civilian Orientation Conference (JCOC), the oldest and most prestigious U.S. Department of Defense public liaison program. As one of 36 JCOC participants, I spent seven days, from June 10-16, 2018, at military installations throughout the southeast, engaging with senior military officials and U.S. service members. In addition to participating in tactical training exercises, our group was provided top-level briefings that gave us a deeper understanding of the roles and
mission of the U.S. Armed Forces, with emphasis on skills, capabilities, and the equipment employed in defense of our nation.
The experience was life-changing.
OUR JOURNEY
My journey began with a deep respect for all who’ve served – including my father and several uncles – but also an unease about war, particularly as a first option.
I shared my journey with top-notch, civilian leaders from both the public and private sectors – a veritable “Who’s Who” of those heading some of our nation’s largest, best-known, or impactful organizations. We not only shared a path, we also helped each other broaden our perspectives.
As a tiny sampling of some things I saw and did, at Fort Bragg we spent the day with U.S. Army Special Operations and took part in a simulated hostage situation. At the conclusion of the day we were “rescued” from a rooftop by the Army Rangers who “took down” a small town – with bombs, bullets, dogs, helicopters, and sharpshooters – and ushered us to safety on Chinook helicopters. From there, we were taken to a dormant airfield, where we ventured into the woods, dined on road-kill prepared by the Army’s top survival specialists, and then celebrated the Army’s 243rd birthday with the Green Berets singing the Army song and eating cake cut by swords. And that was just one of seven days.
I began the week having never fired a gun – and before it ended, I’d been on a target range with an M-16, M-4, SR-26, M2010, M110, and a Glock handgun. Each of these weapons feature tremendous power, which they, in turn, convey to all who use them. My overall experience, both with the weapons and those who regularly use them – served to reinforce my long-held belief that with power comes responsibility and a duty to practice restraint. I was pleased to learn this perspective is shared by those servicemen and women I met during my participation in the JCOC program.
IN AWE OF OUR MILITARY
Beyond the bombs and bullets, ships and jets, there were the people – the men and women of the armed forces, many of whom are younger than 20 – who are the essence of the U.S. military. Beyond bravery and service were core values common to all – loyalty, duty, respect, integrity, and honor. Beyond the uniforms and crisp salutes was a resolute professionalism, academic rigor, leadership development, and relentless drive towards improvement. I was in awe of the military might I saw displayed, and humbled by the sacrifice of others. As much as I learned about our Armed Forces, I learned even more about our society and humanity.
KEY TAKEWAYS
There’s a great deal that 99 percent of us can learn from the less than one percent of all Americans currently serving in the military (of note, 70 percent of eligible Americans cannot serve, due to poor health/fitness, addiction, a criminal record, or related issues).* Here are several key items:
Develop, articulate, and live your core values. Stand for something bigger than yourself.
Commit yourself to life-long learning, re-tooling, and re-training. Constantly and rigorously assess and evaluate.
Life is filled with important assignments – each is much like a mission. Have a clear objective and communicate it widely, up and down the literal or figurative chain of command.
No person or organization is an island unto itself. Appreciate and understand your responsibilities, and be ready to learn from others.
Have a Plan B and a Plan C at the ready … and be prepared to use them if a situation evolves.
Respect yourself and others; fill your personal foxhole with those you trust.
Take care of your body, mind, and soul.*
Stress is natural and inevitable – learn to work with it.
Discipline is far more than just a loud voice. It’s about commitment to training, teamwork, and others.
Everyone can be a leader, no matter what their rank or title.
Always give yourself and others a second chance.
Put the needs of those under your command or direction ahead of your own.
SUMMARY
We rarely saw service personnel wearing their military finest — most were typically clad in camouflage-style uniforms. This style is certainly more functional and comfortable, and the ultimate aim is to blend into the environment. Yet the more we saw of the men and women representing the various branches of our military, even in their camo garb, the less they blended in and the more they stood out for the heroes they are.
While we may not all agree about certain policies or missions, my hope is that we stand together in respecting those who stand ready to defend our country.
SCG Executive Vice President Michael Cherenson recently participated in a senior professional panel discussion on “Qualities of Leadership,” presented by the New Jersey Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America. Here’s additional detail, along with an audio podcast of the session. Click here
Lincoln Park resident selected to participate in prestigious U.S. Department of Defense program
Michael Cherensonamong group chosen to engage with senior military officials, private sector business and community executives for Secretary of Defense’s 2018 Joint Civilian Orientation Conference
As a JCOC participant, Cherenson – who has been a public relations professional for nearly three decades – will spend a week during the summer of 2018 at military installations, engaging with senior military officials and U.S. service members. In addition to participating in tactical training exercises, he will gain a better understanding of the roles and mission of the U.S. Armed Forces, with emphasis on skills, capabilities, and the equipment employed in defense of our nation.
Hosted by the Secretary of Defense, the JCOC program is directly linked to the Department of Defense’s new initiative, This Is Your Military. This initiative strives to educate and accurately inform the American public on the military’s relevance and innovativeness. In addition, the program seeks to introduce Americans to those who currently serve, and to dispel common misperceptions about the military.
“I’m honored to have been selected for inclusion in the 2018 JCOC program,” Cherenson said. “Becoming more familiar with our military will help me – and, by extension, our agency – bridge the military-civilian divide, and also share a broader understanding of our nation’s defense policies from the perspective of key military opinion leaders.”
Accredited in Public Relations (APR) by the Universal Accreditation Board and PRSA, Cherenson is a former (2009) national PRSA chair and a member of that organization’s prestigious College of Fellows. The author of three studies on the impact of reputation, his expertise extends to all disciplines of public relations, including corporate, marketing, internal and crisis communication, government relations, event management, and interactive public relations. He serves as chief public relations counselor and strategist for SCG Advertising + Public Relations, and oversees all public relations activities for the firms’ diverse clientele.
Founded more than half a century ago, SCG (Success Communications Group) provides 21st century communication services highlighted by creativity, passion, and innovation. With specific expertise in advertising, marketing, public relations, social media, digital marketing, and recruitment, SCG is headquartered in Parsippany, NJ, with regional offices in the metro areas of Philadelphia, Atlanta, San Diego, and Tampa. Additional information is available at www.successcomgroup.com, as well as on Facebook, and Twitter.
You’ve heard it again and again — when applying for jobs and internships, make sure your social media and is pristine and appropriate. (You don’t want your Instagram or your digital footprint to speak louder than your resume.) This is especially true for aspiring public relations professionals: if you can’t manage your own social media properly, how can an agency expect you to manage a client’s?
This is why so many internship and job seekers are told to go through and delete any unsavory content, ensure their profile pictures put their best self forward, and make their social profiles private if necessary. Cleaning up your social media is a must, but with public relations positions as competitive as they are, there may be another step needed.
Take charge and create your own digital footprint: an entirely new online identity that focuses not on your crazy nights out, but who you are and what you bring to the table as a professional. You may not want potential employers to find your personal content, so provide an opportunity for employers to get a sense of who you are professionally.
Create a job seeking / professional social media account
Creating a professional Twitter or Instagram to demonstrate your social abilities can set you above the competition. You may be protecting yourself by making all your accounts private, but you’re also missing an opportunity to show how you’re able to manage social media profiles, stay in the loop about industry trends, and engage with brands. If that’s something you want to highlight, consider creating an Instagram or Twitter account specifically for that purpose. Retweet articles about industry trends, show off your amazing graphic design/photography skills, and show that PR is more than just a career for you – it’s a passion.
Online Portfolio or Blog
The reason many hiring managers research candidates is because they want to get a sense of the person behind the resume. What’s their personality? What kind of energy would they bring to the role? If you provide everything a manager could possibly need to know upfront and demonstrate all the creative ways you could contribute, they won’t have to look you up. So create an online portfolio or blog to show off your writing skills, share information about yourself, articulate your ideas and perspectives, and outline all the great experience you’d bring to an employer.
Leveraging LinkedIn
Every young professional should have a LinkedIn account. This platform has so many opportunities for those who invest time in using it. You can connect with those in your dream role, post relevant articles, comment on industry leader’s posts, and write/publish your own content. Being able to share an impressive and engaging LinkedIn profile with a potential employer is a plus.
So, once you’ve made sure your social media content is appropriate, consider creating an entirely new digital footprint. How are you making yourself stand out?
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