Husker Bateman team named finalist for second consecutive year

For the second consecutive year, a University of Nebraska–Lincoln team has been named a finalist in the Public Relations Student Society of America’s Bateman Case Study Competition.

This is the third time in the past six years that the team, based in the College of Journalism and Mass Communications, has finished in the top three in the nation.

This year, the Nebraska team was chosen as a finalist out of 51 entries. Joining Nebraska are teams from Brigham Young University and the University of Florida. The teams will present to a panel of judges May 12, competing for first place.

The Bateman competition is the premier national PR competition for college students. The competition challenges students to create communications campaigns addressing important social topics —such as civility, diversity and inclusion, childhood cancer and mental health — to benefit campus, community and state.

The 2022 Bateman Competition client is the Lymphoma Research Foundation. Nebraska’s team developed and executed an integrated communications campaign to raise awareness of lymphoma and the unique challenges adolescents and young adults can face when diagnosed with the cancer. Some content from the team’s “1 is Still 1” campaign is available here.

Nebraska’s team designed its campaign to educate Husker students about how college-aged students are often overlooked in national cancer research funding and to engage students to advocate for every young adult with lymphoma and their own health.

“Working with this team has been incredible,” said Delani Watkins, the campaign’s community relations coordinator. “We faced challenges that we had to push through, and to see all that hard work and dedication pay off is amazing.”

The team partnered with Students Together Against Cancer, a recognized student organization at Nebraska, to bring light to the inequity of funding research for young adult lymphoma. The groups put together the “1 is Still 1” Change.org petition to stop young adult lymphoma from being overlooked and hosted three advocacy events on City Campus.

Dane Kiambi, associate professor of public relations, leads the team as the faculty adviser. Sheri Sallee, a former college faculty member with nearly 20 years of health communications experience, served as the professional adviser.

“I am incredibly proud of the success our team has had representing the college in the Bateman competition this year,” said Ilana Lewis, the campaign’s project manager. “Through our campaign, we have been able to not only grow as communicators, but also bring light to an important topic concerning our age group. We are thankful for all of the guidance of our faculty and professional advisers and look forward to competing in the final round of judging.”

The following is a list of Nebraska’s Bateman team members, listed by hometown, with major(s) and their year in school:

Nebraska

• La Vista: Delani Watkins, senior, advertising and public relations
• Lincoln: Lindsay Elliott, senior, advertising and public relations; Spencer Swearingen, junior, advertising and public relations, and journalism
• Omaha: Ilana Lewis, advertising and public relations, senior; Morgan Zuerlein, advertising and public relations, senior

Elsewhere

• Haiphong, Vietnam: Mai Vu, advertising and public relations, junior