Jackson, third from left, at the Matrix Awards in New York City
A lot of SUNY Oswego students go far distances during their short few years here. The classes they take, the people they meet, and the experiences they have make them key candidates for the future job market. Senior public relations major Bridget Jackson is a perfect example of the professionalism that comes out of Oswego.
Last spring, Jackson was awarded the Charlotte Kelly Veal Scholarship by the New York Women in Communications Foundation, an organization that cultivates leaders in the communications field by providing financial support, opportunities for professional development and mentoring, and an entree to a diverse community of communications professionals. The largest foundation for women’s communications scholarships in the New York-New Jersey-Connecticut-Pennsylvania region, the foundation awards 15-20 scholarships that range from $2,500 to $5,000 and $10,000, to graduating high school seniors and undergraduate and graduate students who intend to pursue or further a career in communications. All recipients attend the Matrix Awards held at the Waldorf Astoria in New York City and make a live appearance on the TODAY show.
The Charlotte Kelly Veal Scholarship is in honor of former Matrix honoree and much beloved NYWICI member Charlotte Kelly Veal, to a student pursuing a career in public relations.
“The entire experience, from the application process to the awards ceremony itself right up until today is still connecting and making plans with my fellow scholarship sisters is an unreal experience,” Jackson said. “It’s one of those things that if you heard about it, you would assume it is too good to be true. I am in awe that an opportunity like this exists for students.”
Jackson is no stranger to recognition for her public relations either. She was also awarded the “Edward Austin Sheldon Scholar Award” from the Oswego Alumni Association and the “Robert C. Ziegler Memorial Scholarship” from the School of Communications at the 2014 Spring Honors Convocation. The day after coming back from the Matrix Awards in New York City, she was awarded the “Most Likely to Succeed in Public Relations Award” at the 2014 Ozzie Awards, the ceremony congratulating SUNY Oswego students in the School of Communications for their hard work throughout the year. This, she said, was “the icing on the cake.”
“The Ozzies was a surreal experience,” Jackson said. “I attended the Ozzies because I am a very active student on campus and an overall supporter of campus activities. Being in a room full of students who also love communications is a very empowering feeling. So overall, just being at the Ozzies is a great experience. To be recognized in front of all those students and faculty as someone is most likely to succeed in the field I love is amazing. I love PR and to have people say that you will succeed in a field you already love is the best feeling ever.”
Jackson’s experience and strong involvement at SUNY Oswego has helped her become the successful person she is. Since she was a freshman, she has been an office assistant in Career Services, desk attendant in Seneca Hall, a volunteer and employed tour guide for the Admissions Office, a member of the Honors program, an Honors Seminar leader, a blogger for herCampus, a member of Omicron Delta Kappa and Lambda Pi Eta, a member and vice president of PRSSA (Public Relations Society of America) and is currently the president of PRSSA.
She has also been a co-coordinator intern for SCMA Admitted Students Day, a PR intern in the Compass, and PR intern at Kellen Communications in New York City.
“I could talk forever about the resources and opportunities that Oswego provides, it amazes me every day the things this campus has,” Jackson said. “Overall from Oswego, I think I will take away all the connections I made with people. I have met so many interesting people, either in classes, group projects, clubs, employment or simple conversations in the dining hall. Professors and club advisers are a whole different conversation. It amazes me how much they offer to help students. I am an outgoing person and especially with #ozmystory I have been able to meet so many people. I can always walk across campus and say hi to a million people. I made a campus of over 7,000 students my home and coming from an all-girls catholic high school with a graduating class of 70, I never imagined that was possible.”