PLNU Marketing Club hosts Golden Arrow PR executives

Point Loma Nazarene University students filled a classroom in the Fermanian School of Business last month as the Marketing Club held its first event of the year: “PR (Public Relations) & Pringles.” The event brought a panel of three executives from Golden Arrow PR, a public relations and social media agency based in Southern California. 

The speakers included Principal Natasha Nelson, Principal Ashley Garing and Social Media Director Cassie Troutmann. 

Amanda Awaya, a third-year marketing major, is vice president of the club. She said they created the event after a board member’s connections made it possible to bring the speakers to campus. 

“Our team wanted a fun theme that tied into public relations, so our event officers came up with ‘PR & Pringles,’ a name that rhymed and matched the light, engaging tone we wanted,” Awaya said in an email interview. 

The club board arrived at the event 30 minutes early to prepare. Before students arrived, the team game-planned. 

“Our goals were to host something that students from any major would be excited to attend,” Awaya said. “Our vision for this year is to create a space where all students can learn about marketing, build community and make professional connections beyond campus.” 

Students said they heard about this event through emails from the club, posters and Instagram, but Awaya said she wasn’t sure what to expect since it was her first time leading a meeting. 

“I was a little nervous going into it,” she said. “But once students started filling the room, the energy completely shifted.”

 One thing that stood out to Awaya was the students’ eagerness to learn.

“Students weren’t hesitant at all; hands kept going up,” she said. “Even after the event ended, many students stayed to continue the conversation and speak with our guest speakers one-on-one.”

The marketing for the event focused on PR careers, which prompted students, like Madi Wall, a third-year business marketing major, to attend. 

“I thought I could gain a lot of insight from professionals in this field,” Wall said. “Marketing is closely related to PR, and I wanted to learn more because it could be a potential career path.” 

This is what the club’s Operation Officer, Emily Reed, a fourth-year business marketing major, hoped for. She said she wanted students to walk away with a clearer picture of what PR looks like. 

“I wanted them to feel encouraged that these careers are accessible and full of creative opportunities,” Reed said.

Reed also said that exposing students to real-world examples helps put the career into perspective for students. 

“Hearing from professionals who were once in our shoes can make the field feel much more exciting and attainable,” Reed said. 

Wall said that this advice was insightful and allowed her to understand how building relationships in PR is key. 

“Another piece of advice that stuck with me is not to be afraid to learn and ask questions,” Wall said. “The speakers said their favorite younger employees to work with are the ones most curious and attentive when it came to their work.”

Awaya said that the board members believed it was the best panel they had ever been to. 

Reed said that the speakers were transparent about the challenges and rewards of the industry. She hopes to partner with speakers like this in the future. 

“This event definitely reinforced the value of partnering with agencies that are excited to invest in students,” Reed said.