HomeEv Clay Endowment Scholarship Fund

The Ev Clay/PRSA Miami Chapter Endowment Fund is the largest PRSA chapter-operated scholarship fund in the nation. Scholarships are funded by corporate and individual donations. Your tax-deductible donation supports scholarships for students studying public relations or communications at Florida International University, Florida Memorial University, Miami Dade College and the University of Miami.

Join us in helping prepare and provide opportunities for the public relations professionals of tomorrow!

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About the Fund

Through your involvement with PRSA Miami, you are likely familiar with the Ev Clay/PRSA Miami Chapter Endowment Fund, the largest PRSA chapter-operated scholarship fund in the nation.

It was established in 1985 in memory of Miami public relations pioneer, Everett A. Clay.

In 1940, Ev Clay founded Florida's oldest public relations firm, which was later led by his daughter, Dana Clay, APR. Ev Clay believed strongly in the principles of PRSA and embodied them in his professional life. He was a founding member of the PRSA Miami Chapter that was established in 1955, and received its first lifetime achievement award. In 2000, the fund was recognized as a 501c3 not-for-profit corporation.

The Ev Clay/PRSA Miami Endowment Fund is the most successful endowment scholarship program of any PRSA chapter in the nation, providing financial resources to students with a public relations interest. It has awarded more than $338,500 in scholarships to 177 deserving students.

This year, more than ever, we need your help. If you are a regular contributor, could you consider increasing your gift? Your tax-deductible donation will propel our giving to a new level and directly impact the lives of highly deserving public relations students.

Contributions made before the 2023 luncheon date will be recognized in the event program at the annual endowment fund luncheon. Be sure to connect with PRSA Miami on social media as we gear up to announce the 2023 date. Please join us at the luncheon as we award scholarships to students at Florida International University (FIU), Florida Memorial University (FMU), Miami-Dade College (MDC) and the University of Miami (UM).

"My father would be so proud to know that the scholarship program named in his honor has continued to flourish since it was started in 1987. It now offers a generous scholarship of $3,400 to deserving students who exhibit academic excellence and genuine enthusiasm for our profession."

-- Dana Clay, APR, EvClay Public Relations

Apply for a Scholarship

Applications for the Ev Clay/PRSA Miami Endowment Scholarship Fund occur each spring through summer. An appointed awards committee selects PRSSA students made up of Chapter board members and committee members. Award recipients are informed via email or phone in August of that year. All scholarship winners are recognized at the PRSA Miami annual Endowment Luncheon, which takes place in the fall.

To Apply:

Confirm your eligibility: if you attend FIU, FMU, or UM, you MUST be a Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) member to apply. If you are not currently a member, talk to your faculty adviser (below) about expediting your PRSSA membership application.
Complete and submit this online application. (You should compose your responses to the long-form questions in a word processing application and then paste them into the appropriate fields.)
If you have questions, contact your school's designated school contact:

FIU: Prof. Hugo Ottolenghi, ottoleng@fiu.edu
UM: Prof. (Jack) Wesley P. Miller IV, jackmiller@miami.edu
FMU: Associate Professor Bill Jong-Ebot, webot@fmuniv.edu

DONATE TODAY

APPLY FOR SCHOLARSHIP

Testimonials

"I received the scholarship at a very difficult time in my life. My Dad had just passed away suddenly the year before in a tragic car accident. He was the sole breadwinner of the family, and was paying for my studies. PRSA gave me the opportunity to learn leadership skills, while the scholarship gave me and my mother peace of mind that I could continue with my degree."

-- Vivian Vedel Theriault, Breaking News Manager at WXIA-TV 11Alive

1989 Ev Clay/PRSA Miami Scholarship Recipient

"In addition to its financial impact, the endowment recognizes hard work. In 1999 as I was preparing to graduate from FIU, the recognition allowed me to stand out among my peers."

-- Nicole de Lara Puente, Chief Executive Officer at Live Like Bella Foundation

1999 Ev Clay/PRSA Miami Scholarship Recipient

"Receiving this scholarship helped launch my career in PR by introducing me to some of the best practitioners in the business and allowing me to learn all I could do in this field. I’m fortunate to work alongside many of the people who selected me as a scholarship recipient."

-- Nathaniel Derrenbacher, Lead, Corporate and Incident Communications, Royal Caribbean Group

2018 Ev Clay/PRSA Miami Scholarship Recipient