SCOM Student Awarded Jay Rayburn Scholarship

Posted by Fionnula Ulik on

Kaylan Williams, a Public Relations (PR) student in the School of Communication, has been awarded the Jay Rayburn Scholarship through the Florida Public Relations Association (FPRA). Williams was honored at the FPRA statewide “PR & Comms Summit” this August.

“Receiving this scholarship is a testament to my dedication to FPRA and my career in public relations. FPRA has already opened so many doors to networking and growth opportunities with other scholars, professionals, and leaders,” said Williams. “I can’t wait to continue building connections at the President’s Luncheon during the FPRA Summit in Tampa in August.” 

Dr. Jay Rayburn, a former FPRA state president in 1994 and member of the year in 1991, worked as a faculty member at Florida State University (FSU) teaching public relations and integrated marketing for 35 years. The $1,500 scholarship was established in his name after his passing in 2021. 

Williams is on the incoming executive board for the student FPRA chapter. “I wanted to grow in my career and meet like-minded peers who share a passion for public relations and communications,” said Williams. “The Student Capital FPRA community offers an unparalleled environment for networking and professional development, which has been instrumental in my college experience.”

Slide displayed at the “PR and Comms Summit” to honor Williams

With how integral Williams describes FPRA to be in her life, she says it was an easy decision to apply for the Rayburn scholarship, with the guidance of Dr. Elizabeth Ray. She enjoyed learning about Jay Rayburn’s legacy through her application process. “I consider it a great honor to build my career in the footsteps of those who helped create the path. Understanding the depth of his influence at FSU, particularly the long-lasting impact he left on students and the PR profession, has made me appreciate the importance of the strong educational foundation that FSU provides,” she said

Upon receiving the Rayburn Scholarship, Williams directly utilized the money for her study abroad experience in Florence, Italy with FSU IP’s Media & Communication program. There, she collaborated with peers as a Copy Editor for the ItaliaNoles magazine, a student publication produced at the FSU Florence study center each semester.