Fall Workshop

Register | Nominations are now being accepted:
- Natalea Watkins Communicator of the Year Award
- Randy Talley Rising Star Award

The highlight of our fall workshop each year is the presentation of our Communicator of the Year Award, launched in 2003. The first honoree was Natalea Watkins, longtime associate vice president for communications at Oklahoma State University in Stillwater. So effective was her leadership in both OCPRA and the State Communicators Council that, beginning in 2004, the award was renamed the Natalea Watkins Communicator of the Year Award. Nominations are accepted year-round for this award, which is judged and presented each November.

This is the second year for the Randy Talley Rising Star Award that recognizes rising communications, marketing and public relations professionals working at Oklahoma higher education institutions. The award is named in honor of Randy Talley, who served as a role model for numerous students and developing professionals during his tenure as Director of Media and Community Relations for the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma and his more than 20 years as a member of the Board of Directors of OCPRA.

Each year, OCPRA members tackle a relevant issue in our Fall Workshop, open to colleagues in all PR related fields and others interested. Co-sponsored by the State Communicator’s Council, our fall workshop provides excellent networking and learning opportunities. Recent fall workshops have examined crisis communications, admissions  marketing, social media, web strategies and accessibility and more.

Natalea Watkins Communicator of the Year Award

The highlight of our fall workshop each year is the presentation of our Communicator of the Year Award, launched in 2003. The first honoree was Natalea Watkins, longtime associate vice president for communications at Oklahoma State University in Stillwater. So effective was her leadership in both OCPRA and the State Communicators Council that, beginning in 2004, the award was renamed the Natalea Watkins Communicator of the Year Award. Nominations are accepted year-round for this award, which is judged and presented each November.

Randy Talley Rising Star Award

This is the second year for the Randy Talley Rising Star Award that recognizes rising communications, marketing and public relations professionals working at Oklahoma higher education institutions. The award is named in honor of Randy Talley, who served as a role model for numerous students and developing professionals during his tenure as Director of Media and Community Relations for the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma and his more than 20 years as a member of the Board of Directors of OCPRA.