April 6, 2018 at 1:53 p.m.
CLASS PROJECT
Saint Rose does PR for Mater Christi
"We were completely impressed and amazed because the kids were so polite," said Tinamarie Stolz, 21, who will finish her communications degree from Saint Rose with a concentration in public relations this spring. "I just could see on [the principal's] face how much she loved the school."
At one point, the college students asked Mater Christi's student council members about their relationship to their school, which enrolls pre-kindergartners through eigth-graders.
"One girl raised her hand," Ms. Stolz said, "and said, 'When I come to school, I feel like I'm coming back to my brothers and sisters.' And I was so moved by that."
It's been easy, then, for the aspiring public relations professionals from Saint Rose to dream up a publicity campaign for Mater Christi that focuses on the school's family environment and other attributes.
Choosing clients
Mater Christi was one of three clients selected this semester to benefit from communications majors' work in a capstone course. Rosemary Sheridan, the visiting instructor who runs the course, is a parishioner of Mater Christi Church who has served on the parish council and committees.
Mater Christi School fit Ms. Sheridan's criteria for the class' work, being a small organization without the time or money to spend on public relations. The other clients are an organization that promotes education to student athletes and an author who's penning a social media textbook.
Ms. Stolz immediately volunteered as project leader after she heard a presentation from Mater Christi's principal, Theresa Ewell. The Saint Rose students were "jumping out of their socks," Ms. Sheridan said. "They could not get started on this campaign fast enough."
Students at work
The enthusiastic students have surveyed Mater Christi parents, worked on a brochure to use at open houses, suggested Facebook and Twitter posts, created guidelines for social media use and for submitting photos to local newspapers, and launched a "tell-a-friend" campaign among parents of Mater Christi students.
The Saint Rose group also collaborated with a video production class to film a promotional video in an on-campus television studio. It incorporated interviews with parents and students; podcasts from the video will be featured on Mater Christi's website, www.materchristischool.org.
The campaign particularly targets parents and prospective students, especially preschoolers and those in first through sixth grade.
"The process has been excellent," said Ms. Stolz, a parishioner of St. Vincent de Paul Church in Albany whose home is in Stony Point, N.Y. Some of the parents interviewed for the video were moved to tears: "You can't make that stuff up. They're our best spokespeople."
Showing their pride
Mrs. Ewell called the Saint Rose students "very nice, talented young professionals.
"The video was not something we had planned to do," she told The Evangelist. "It has been a wonderful experience having them come in with fresh eyes and, many times, reaffirming what we feel. We're very pleased with how they worked through the project."
Ms. Stolz said her Catholic faith and belief in Catholic education "added something extra special" to her work on the project.
"I actually surprised myself. I didn't think I was going to get so emotionally attached" to Mater Christi, she said. "They have this family vibe. They care so much, and it's hard not to care with them."
Mater Christi was the first Catholic school client for the Saint Rose class. Whether that becomes a trend "will depend on interest and [whether] it's something we can do," said Ms. Sheridan. "It's a great opportunity for our students to learn - and also for the Mater Christi kids to learn." [[In-content Ad]]
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